
WALNUT STREET CHURCH. 
Dedicated Feb. 7. 1864. 



HISTORY 



OF- 



Walnut Street Church, 



SKETCHES 



Pastors, Elders and Prominent Members, 



Reminiscences of Evansville in 
Early Times. 



EVANSVILLE, IND., 

THE COURIER CO., 
1891. 



if 



DEDICATION. 

To the memory of the friends of long ago, 
and to the members of Walnut Street Church, 
this volume is affectionately dedicated by 

MARY F. REILL Y. 




CHAPTER L 



"The great eventful present 
hides the past, 
but through the din 
Of its loud life, hints and echoes 
of the life behind steal in.' 1 

In the address of Moses to the Israelites when he 
was about to retire to Mount Nebo, which was to be 
his final resting place, he exhorted them to rightly 
appreciate the "greatness" of God, who had in mercy 
brought them, notwithstanding their wanderings 
and shortcomings, safely thus far, saying u He 
found him (Israel) in a desert land, and in the waste 
howling wilderness; he led him about; he instructed 
him; he kept him as the apple of his eye." 

"As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over 
her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, 
beareth them on her wings, so the Lord alone did lead 
him." As if to emphasize more forcibly this beau- 
tiful and eloquent picture and add additional testi- 
mony to his assertions, he said: "Remember the 
days of old, consider the years of many generations: 



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ask thy father, and he will show thee; thy elders, 
and they will tell thee."' The condition of Israel 
when found in a desert land might well apply to 
the state of the church when first found in these 
western wilds, and the loving and watchful care 
that has been bestowed upon it finds a simile in the 
foregoing description. 

It is now seventy years since the religious de- 
nomination worshiping in the Walnut street church 
had its first existence, and as there is not now living 
one of the members of that church, when first 
formed, we may conclude that by the time its Cen- 
tennial anniversary arrives there will be none of 
even the early "fathers" or "elders 1 ' to tell of "these 
days of old. 1 ' In view of this fact, the writer and 
compiler of this book, who is probably the oldest 
person living who remembers any of the particulars 
respecting this church in its infancy, has thought 
that a short history might be of interest to some of 
its present and future members, and offers this little 
volume as an anniversary greeting to the friends 
and members of Walnut Street Church with the 
hope that the history may be continued by some 
younger person in future years. If the events are 
recorded as they transpire, much more of interest 
will be preserved for a future volume than will be 
found in this, and it is hoped that in ten or fifteen 



years from this time some one will be found to have 
kept a record of the events and progress of the 
church who will add a second volume of the history 
of Walnut Street Church. 

The circumstances surrounding this church in its 
earliest formation throw a halo about that event. 
Those who witnessed its early struggles for exis- 
tence can remember too well the care and anxiety 
that filled the minds and hearts of those who were 
most deeply interested in its welfare. Religion of 
any kind had seemed to be a secondary considera- 
tion with the greater part of the then sparse popu- 
lation, their greatest efforts being required to min- 
ister to the temporal wants of their families. Those 
who had come from other places where they had 
enjoyed religious privileges had brought their re- 
ligion with them and made use of it, in a private 
way, but when it became necessary for it to assume 
the form of dollars and cents for the public use it 
took on a new phase, and there were very few who 
felt that the money could be spared to pay a preacher 
or build a church. 

In the year 1821 the Presbyterian church was or- 
ganized under the direction of Rev. D. C. Banks, 
who was at that time pastor of a Presbyterian 
church in Henderson, Ky. The membership of the 
church consisted of ten or twelve persons, and as 



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tliere was no particular place of worship or stated 
times appointed for services the church received no* 
additions for a long time. There were occasional 
meetings in private houses — sometimes in an old 
log school house on the lower side of Locust street r 
between First and Second, and sometimes in a 
small log house located on First street between 
Oak and Mulberry, which is not now standing; 
it was removed many years ago to the lot of Mr. 
Wm. Dean, corner of First and Mulberry streets. 
This old building was erected for a private residence,, 
but after the Presbyterian church was completed it 
was fitted up for a Baptist church. An old brick 
Court House, painted green, with no floor and with 
"puncheon" seats, was also a place where the faith- 
ful assembled to hear the word dispensed. During 
the week, the doors being left open, sheep and 
other animals sought shade, or refuge from inclem- 
ent weather in these sacred precincts. In winter 
time the luxury of a fire was considered necessary, 
which was built in a fire-place in the side of the 
wall, and the audience was often dissolved in tears, 
weeping, not so much on account of their own sins 
as for the shortcomings of the brick mason who 
built the miserable chimney, which sent more 
smoke through the building and audience than as- 
cended heavenward. The upper part of this Court 



-9- 



House was afterward finished into a comfortable 
room where the Episcopalians held service and 
where fairs and shows of different kinds were also 
held. 

The "Apostolic Succession" of the present day 
would deem it sacrilegious to hold service in a place 
desecrated by ventriloquists, conjurers and prestidig- 
itators. 

A small brick school house was erected on the 
public square back of what is now 76 Main street. 
It was built the same year that the first church was, 
but was finished earlier and meetings were occas- 
ionally held in this. The Episcopal church was 
organized and its first service held in this school 
house, Bishop Kemper and Rev. Mr. Johnston, of 
Terre Haute, conducting the meeting. 

At this meeting a very amusing incident took 
place, which was probably not put down in the 
records of that time, as it would have been impos- 
sible to describe it as it appeared. There had been 
v no arrangement made for conducting the singing 
and it devolved upon the only two men present be- 
side the Clergyman and Bishop to start the tune. 
Mr. Ira French, who was the only Episcopalian in 
the town, and Mr. Eperson, of the Methodist church, 
were the ones who conducted the singing. Mr. 
French deferred to Mr. Eperson, who started off in 



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f ull voice on a short meter tune to the long meter 
hymn announced. It went very well till the first 
few words of the hymn were sung, but when the 
tune came to an end there were still words to sing. 
Of course it was expected they would stop in such 
a plight, but nothing daunted they held on to the 
last note and finished the line and continued on in 
this manner till three verses were sung. No one 
laughed and no one cried, but all laughed till they 
cried when they got out of the school house. Mr. 
French, on being asked why he continued singing 
under the circumstances, replied that he had ap- 
pointed the chorister and he was bound to stand 
by him until the last. It was certainly the most 
ludicrous affair that ever happened at an Episcopal 
service. 

Besides the school house there were but three 
other brick buildings in the place at this time, the 
Court House and a two-story brick occupied by Mr. 
Edward Hopkins, the father of Mrs. Chas. Viele; 
also a two-story brick on Main street, where the old 
bank now stands. It was occupied by F. E. Grood- 
sell, postmaster, and afterward by Judge Matthew 
Foster, father of Hon. John W. Foster, of Wash- 
ington, and of Messrs. Alex.. James and Will Foster, 
of Evansville. 



CHAPTER II. 



To the Rev. Calvin Butler, the people of Evans- 
ville were largely indebted for their first church 
edifice. Mr. Butler belonged to the Vincennes 
Presbytery, and was appointed to preach occasion- 
ally in this place, He urged the building of a 
church, and though there was but a feeble response 
at first to his project, with his characteristic cour- 
age and energy, he undertook the work of raising 
the money. There were, at that time, only about 
three hundred inhabitants, and none of them 
wealthy. The citizens who were most interested in 
building the church were Hon. Wm. Olmsted, 
Messrs. John Shanklin and Alanson Warner,whose 
wives were prominent members of the church, Mr. 
Luke Wood and Amos Clark, the latter a leading 
lawyer at that time, who subsequently removed to 
Texas. 

We find among documents belonging to the 
church, one which shows that on April 20th, 1831, 



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a subscription list was started, of which the fol- 
lowing is a copy: . 

^xiQiUKl %uil&ing Mnbzcviptxon. 

The undersigned, being desirous to have a Pres- 
byterian Meeting House for Evahsville and its vic- 
inity, promise to pay the sums severally annexed to 
our names, to trustees hereafter to be appointed by 
the subscribers. Said house to be 30x50 feet, of 
brick, with its walls 18 feet in height; to have eight 
windows with forty lights each of glass 10x12 in.; 
with two doors and a floor jointed, not planed; and 
a good roof. 

Evansville, Ind., April 20th, 1831. 



NAMES. AM T. 

John Shanklin.. $100.00 

A.Warner 50.00 

N. Rowley 20.00 

Calvin Butler.. . 75.00 
Luke Wood, ($25 

cash,$25 labor) 50.00 
Wm.01msted($25 

cash,$25 labor) 50.00 

Amos Clark 50.00 

David Negley... 25.00 
James Lewis .... 25.00 
John Mitchel . . . 25.00 
E. Hull, in labor. 5.00 
Chas. Fullerton . . 5.00 
S. Stevens,saddlery 25.00 

(Not one of the above persons is now living.) 

In pursuance of the above subscriptions, a meet- 
ing was held, which, by the following official rec- 
ord, organized the enterprise, by election of Trus- 
tees. 



NAMES. AM T. 

Julius Harrison . . 5.00 

Rich'd Browning 10.00 

Alex. Johnson . . . 10.00 

Marcus Sherwood 10.00 

Archippus Gillett 10.00 
Daniel Tool, (in 

tailoring) .... 5.00 
Jno.W.Duncanjn 

leather and cash 20.00 

Robert Barnes . . 10.00 

Jno. W. Lilleston 3.00 

John Ingle 10.00 

Levi Price( labor) 10.00 

M. D. Robertson 2.50 



-13- 

Election of Teustees. 



At a meeting of the subscribers for building a 
Presbyterian Meeting House in the town of Evans- 
ville, at the house of Alanson Warner, on the 23d 
of April, for the purpose of electing Trustees, in 
pursuance of subscription, at which meeting David 
Negley was elected chairman, and James Lewis, sec- 
retary, the following persons were chosen Trus- 
tees: Amos Clark, Alanson Warner, and William 
Olmsted. 

David Neglet, Chairman. 

James Lewis, Secretary. 

Mr. Butler had interested himself so much in the 
church that he was permitted by the Presbytery to 
remove his place of residence to Evansville, and the 
above trustees, knowing that he intended making 
a visit to the east, hoping in some way to obtain 
help for building the church, gave him the follow- 
ing commission. The appeal is pathetic, while it 
shows that nothing but a strong desire to enjoy the 
comforts and consolations of the Grospel, could in 
their days of poverty, have caused them to give of 
their scanty means to such a cause. 

The Commission. 



Rev. Calvin Butler, Sir: — The undersigned hav- 
ing been appointed trustees for the purpose of pro- 
curing and appropriating funds to the building of 
a Presbyterian Meeting House, in the town of Ev- 



-14- 



ansville, have made the effort to obtain necessary sub- 
scription for that purpose, but are satisfied we will 
not be able to obtain sufficient funds in this vicinity, 
to accomplish the object. A number of individuals 
have shown by their subscriptions, the deep interest 
they feel in the accomplishment of so important a 
matter. This fact we believe will be equally ob- 
vious to others as to ourselves, when they are told 
that there are subscriptions from fifty to seventy- 
five dollars, by persons not worth more than from 
five to eight hundred dollars; yet, with all the ex- 
ertion we can use, we believe we must fail in the 
undertaking, unless through your agency, we can 
procure assistance from some eastern friends. 
Knowing that you are about to make a journey 
through the eastern part of the United States, we 
have thought proper to request and authorize you 
in such manner, and at such times and places as you 
may think proper, to solicit assistance for the ac- 
complishment of the before mentioned object. It 
is not our intention to build an expensive building, 
but one that will cost between $1,200 and $1,500; 
but even for this small sum we are compelled to so- 
licit the assistance of our more blessed and wealthy 
friends. The importance of a place of public wor- 
ship in Evansville will be acknowledged by all who 
are acquainted with its situation. At this time 
there is not a convenient or comfortable house in 
which to worship, in the town or its vicinity — not 
even a good school house. During the fall, winter 
and spring, owing to the uncertain and uncomfort- 
able place of meeting, it may emphatically be said, 
that the cause of Zion mourns, because few attend 
her solemn feasts. In addition to this, the import- 
ance of the situation, both as a landing place for 
boats upon the Ohio River, the termination of stages, 
which travel up and down the Wabash River, ren- 
ders this place a more central and suitable one for 



-15- 



such a building than others between the falls and 
the mouth of the Ohio River. As there is no other 
place of equal importance in these two points of 
view,we therefore hope, if it is consistent with your 
views, that you will use your endeavors to procure 
the necessary assistance, and any donation in fur- 
therance of our designs, will be thankfully received 
and faithfully appropriated. 

Wm. Olmsted, 
A. Warner. 

Evansville, Ind., April, 1831. Amos Clark, 

The funds raised by Mr. Butler of friends in the 

East enabled the Trustees to go forward with the 

enterprise, and the manner in which Mr. Butler and 

the donors intended they should be expended, the 

following receipt found among the church papers 

conclusively shows: 

u Rec'd of Rev. Calvin Butler, Three Hundred 
Dollars, which we pledge ourselves shall be sacredly 
appropriated for the purpose of building a Presby- 
terian Meeting house in the town of Evansville. 

Amos Clark, ) 

Wm. Olmsted, > Trustees of the Society. 
A. Warner, ) 

There is also among the church papers a title 
bond given by John B. Stinson, a Baptist preacher, 
in which he binds himself to convey to these Trus- 
tees the lots upon which the church was built: "In 
and for the consideration of one hundred dollars, 1 ' 
which at that time was the fair valuation of the 
property. 



-16- 



There is also the deed itself, by which John B. 
Stinson actually conveys the property to said Trus- 
tees, stating in exact language: "To the Trustees 
of the Presbyterian church and congregation. 1 ' 

The building contracts specify that the church to 

be built is to be a "Presbyterian Meeting House." 

The mason's contract, dated January 14th, 1832, 

reads as follows: 

"It is agreed between Amos Clark, Wm. Olm- 
sted and Alanson Warner, Trustees of the Evans- 
ville Presbyterian church and congregation of the 
one part, and John H. Campbell of the other part 
as follows, to-wit: The said Trustees agree to fur- 
nish brick, lime and sand for building the walls of 
the Presbyterian Meeting house, in Evansville. 11 

Another contract dated April 17th, 1832, begins 

as follows: 

"Article of agreement between James Ring of 
the one part, and the Trustees of the Presby- 
terian church and their successors on the other 
part, witnesseth that the said Ring agrees to frame 
the timbers and put on the roof of the Presbyterian 
Meeting house now building in Evansville; 1 ' and 
the following receipt shows that the brick were 
also provided: 

"Rec'd Evansville, October 26th, 1831, of A. 
Warner, Trustee, for the Evansville Presbyterian 
church and congregation in Evansville, one hun- 
dred and seventy-seven dollars sixty-two and a 
half cents, for which I have delivered s'd War- 



-17- 



ner and the other Trustees a kiln of brick, in 
the town of Evansville, supposed to be 65 thousand, 
and bind myself to make that amount up by the 
first day of May next, should they fall short. 

Barney Cody." 




CHAPTER III. 



From the foregoing papers it will be seen that the- 
church was fully designed to be a Presbyterian 
church. When the subscription paper was actually 
in circulation, those who solicited the donation were 
instructed by the Trustees to say that when there 
were no Presbyterian services in the church the use 
of it by any other Evangelical denomination would 
be gladly granted, and this promise was fulfilled 
and no instance can be referred to when it was re- 
fused. 

For six years after its erection other denomina- 
tions did use it more than the one to whom it be- 
longed, as after Mr. Butler left, the church was for 
some years without a regular pastor. This gave 
rise to the idea, with some, that it was a Union 
church, which was never the case, except through 
courtesy and friendly feeling which always pre- 
vailed with our pastors towards other denomina- 
tions. Here is a quotation from a sermon of our 



late, well beloved pastor, McCarer, in speaking on 
the subject: "I remember the words of the Master 
when he said 'A new commandment, give I unto 
you that ye love one another. 1 I wish to dwell in 
unity with all my brethren in Christ, And I say 
this more cordially, because in calling to remem- 
brance the former time, there arise before my vision 
scenes of blessed Christian intercourse, and I love 
above any mere denominationalism, all who bear 
the image of the Savior, and are thus members of 
one spiritual body.' 1 

In speaking of the brethren who had frequently 
occupied the pulpit of his church, he said: "Within 
these walls our Methodist brethren often met, and 
we mingled with them our sacrifice of praise and 
rejoicing." 

The venerable Father Wheeler, whom many still 
remember, also Father Parrett, both godly men, 
whom everyone honored, had their appointments 
for months together in this house of worship. 
These two good men were both English, with a 
strong Yorkshire accent. Some persons will yet re- 
member the deep, sonorous tones of Father Wheeler's 
voice when he prayed, as he never forgot to: u Hopen 
now thy beneficent 'and, hand pour (pronounced 
power) out thy blessing hupon hus." His manner 
was so impressive, that one felt the real presence of 



-20- 



Him whom he addressed. He frequently spoke 
of the Almighty as the great "High Ham.' 1 His 
preaching was sound and spiritual, and his memory 
is a precious boon. 

The peaceful and benign face of Father Parrett 
comes before me as he humbly and modestly rose in 
the pulpit, and in a quiet voice read from the words 
of holy writ, and in the same low tone proceeded to 
read his text, and give the heads and divisions of 
his subject. As he proceeded, he became more en- 
thusiastic, and in the close of his sermon was truly 
eloquent. His words were of peace and good will 
to all. 

Then there were the two Baptist brothers, John 
B. and Benoni Stinson. The voice of the latter, 
once heard, would never be forgotten. They were 
good men, but persons of whom it might sometimes 
be said, that they had more religion than discretion. 
They were uneducated sons of toil, and the vigor- 
ous efforts put forth tnrough the week to fell the 
trees and till the soil, extended into the services 
of Sabbath, and while the words of truth and 
righteousness were delivered in stentorian voice, 
after the manner of many of the preachers of that 
day, the gestures were most expressive. The bible 
was taken up and laid down with great force, and 
the pulpit pounded with excessive vehemence, which 



-.21- 



gave an impressiveness to their sermons, which, to 
those accustomed to such preaching, was relished 
and approved. Their religion was genuine, no 
doubt, for they were highly respected in the com- 
munity. Devout ministers of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church, also often preached in the 
''Church on the Hill," as it was called, and held 
their stated congregational meetings there. Rev. 
Benjamin Hall, one of their best preachers, was al- 
ways welcomed by all denominations who came to 
that church to hear him. 

The building and completion of a church in those 
days, was a great event, and the congregation was 
as proud and happy as they held their first service 
in this humble edifice, as those who now worship 
under frescoed ceilings, where the light through 
memorial and stained glass windows shines upon 
them. 




CHAPTER IV. 



The Church on the Hill stood on the highest ele- 
vation in or about the place, being surrounded with 
forest trees, and as much of the land was low, a 
good part of the year found the water standing in 
in pools in all directions, the ground was just a 
marsh most of the time. Where the Courier build- 
ing on Second street now stands, was the site of the 
church, which can scarcely be realized, as the hill 
has disappeared in the grading of the streets. It 
was of modest dimensions, 30x50 feet, without the 
least attempt at ornamentation, and cost $1,300. 
The first set of seats were of plank with part of the 
bark left on them, smoothed off on one side and 
without backs; large hickory sticks being driven in 
for legs. After a while these were superseded by 
plain pine seats, also without backs. The pulpit 
was a dry goods box covered with green baise. 
Subsequently seats with backs were introduced and 




LITTLE CHURCH ON THE HILL IN 1832. 



-23- 



& plain oblong pulpit took the place of the dry 
goods box. It was paneled and painted white, and 
so high that the good man who addressed the con- 
gregation was completely obscured from view when 
he took his seat, and his meditations could not be 
disturbed by the eyes of anyone being upon him. 
When he rose up in the pulpit he made a sort of a 
"Jack-in-the-box" appearance, or, as one of the pas- 
tors said, ''he seemed to be sending forth missiles of 
the Gospel from a strong frontier block house, 11 
but after a time this pulpit was relieved from duty, 
.and one more sightly filled its place. The edifice 
was lighted with tallow candles placed in an ar- 
rangement made by the tinner, the back of which 
answered as a reflector, and one was hung at each 
side of the large windo vvs, where the tallow dripped 
gracefully upon the window sill, where persons 
leaned their elbows during service and found their 
clothing ruined when they went home. The choir 
occupied the long seats by the side of the pulpit. 

The good people of New England had responded 
to the call for aid, and those who had no money to 
give, gave some article which they considered a 
luxury, that they could do without. Articles of 
jewelry and bead reticules, which had just come into 
style,costingfrom$5 to $12,were cheerfully given by 
•conscientious women and disposed of for money on 



-24- 



Mr. Butler's return. One of these reticules is still 
in existence. The whole amount collected in the 
East was $300, which with the sum of the sub- 
scriptions was not sufficient to clear the church of 
debt, and then as now the women came to the res- 
cue and through the instrumentality of sewing so- 
cieties and fairs the money was raised by which the 
debt was paid. The sewing society was a pleasant 
feature of those days. The gentlemen became mem- 
bers and paid their initiation fee, some in money r 
others in articles out of their stores. Mr. Willard 
Carpenter paid his in ribbon, and there was no end 
to the pin-cushions, needle-books, fancy aprons, 
night-caps and genuine good articles that were sold 
at the fairs. Ready made articles of clothing were 
kept always on hand for sale at any time, which 
was a great convenience and furnished quite a rev- 
enue. The society was also a benevolent organiza- 
tion. If any one was ill or had sickness in their 
family the ladies met and sewed for them, making 
up their family clothing for the season, and if any 
sick or destitute person came within the knowledge 
of the society, goods were bought and made up for 
their families. The society, while helping to pay 
the debt on the church, assisting the poor and keep- 
ing up the current expenses of the church, did not 
forget the Missionary cause, and in 1837 reached 



-25- 



the point of being able to send $30.00 to the Ameri- 
can Board of Foreign Missions, and in 1839 it sent 
$37.50. In 1840 the sum contributed was $84.94 
for which thanks were received and an earnest ap- 
peal for a continuance of the interest in the cause. 
But the calls at home next claimed our attention 
and the contributions to that cause as a society 
ceased. 

The Episcopalians, who had heretofore been mem- 
bers of the society, formed one of their own and the 
funds on hand at the time were divided with them. 

These were the days of small things. There was 
very little money in the country at that time. Trade 
was carried on in a great measure by barter. While 
no one suffered from want, the "picayunes" were 
very scarce, and people paid their debts in what 
they had, if it happened to be anything the creditor 
needed or could dispose of to advantage. For in- 
stance a person would take his pay in hoop-iron, 
sell it for churns and swap the churns for grocer- 
ies. Every one had his own garden and raised his 
own iowls and meat, and then families who raised 
more vegetables, poultry and grain or had more 
butter or lard than they could use would join to- 
gether and load a flat-boat for New Orleans, and af- 
ter a long, tedious voyage of the boat they would 
have coffee, sugar and molasses returned to them 



for what they had sent. A comfortable living was 
thus secured, although luxuries were scarce. 

The most serious inconvenience the people suf- 
fered was the want of good water, the river water 
being all that could be obtained till 1835, when the 
first cistern was built by Mr. Ira French, who had 
bought the patent-right to build cisterns in this 
countv. The cistern was built for Mr. John Shank- 
lin and held 200 barrels of water, which was con- 
sidered the greatest luxury ever known in the place. 

Before this time the water for drinking and 
cooking purposes was kept in jars in the cellar to 
cool and settle. No ice or beer was to be had then 
either, and no one felt the need of the latter. 

These last few items are mentioned to show the 
great changes that have taken place in Evansville 
since that time, also why it seemed a much greater 
undertaking to build a church then than it does 
now. One of our citizens gives more now as one sub- 
scription than the whole cost of this first Presby- 
terian church. 




REV. CALVIN BUTLEE. 



CHAPTER V. 



EEY. CALVIN" BUTLER, 
The first Pastor of the first Church in Evrnsville. 

In Chester, Vt., on August 23d, 1827, the Rev. 
Oalvin Butler was married to Miss Malvina French, 
and soon after started as a missionary to a home in 
the West. Mr. Butler had finished a College course 
at Middlebury, Vt., and graduated in Theology at 
Andover, Mass. Theological Seminary. He was a 
thorough scholar, reading and translating seven 
different languages, for which he found but little 
use in this new country, where even the English 
language, as then spoken in this region, was al- 
most a new dialect to an educated person. He was 
a man of uncommon energy and ability to surmount 
obstacles. When we think of the hardships en- 
dured by the early ministers in the West, the anx- 
iety they must have suffered, and compare their 



-28- 



lives with those of the more fortunate ministers of 
the present day, we may truly think of the latter 
that "their lines have fallen to them in pleasant 
places," and that they are "carried to the skies on 
flowery beds of ease." 

At the time Mr. Butler came to the West there 
was no public conveyance and no regular stage 
routes in the direction he wished to come, so he and 
his wife were obliged to make the journey in a car- 
riage of their own, bringing their baggage with 
them, which consisted of only their clothing and a 
library of valuable books, which, through much 
tribulation, they managed to bring safely. The 
journey occupied nine weeks and some parts of it 
was through forests where the trees were only biased 
to show the way, as there was not travel enough to 
make a road, and often they were obliged to hew 
their way through the forests where the trees 
had been blown down across the road, which ren- 
dered it impassable. Reared amid the comforts and 
luxuries of a New England home, the wife of this 
missionary had known nothing of hardships, but 
bravely she bore the trip. She was known to say 
that she shed tears but once in all these long nine 
weeks, which the journey occupied, and that Was 
once when her husband was chopping the way 
through the woods. It was growing late and the 



-29- 



f ear of not reaching a place of safety before dark 
made her nervous, as at that time, the forests were 
not safe from wild beasts. 

The field of labor to which Mr. Butler was ap- 
pointed on his first coming to the West comprised 
the two towns of Vincennes and Princeton, preach- 
ing alternately every two weeks at one of these 
places. His residence being at Princeton he was 
obliged to make the trip to Vincennes on horse- 
back through all kinds of bad weather and bad 
roads such as are found in new countries. He be- 
longed to the Vincennes Presbytery, and after preach- 
ing for three years in the above named places he 
was appointed by that body to preach in Evansville, 
to which place he removed with his family. He 
bought a small tract of land, about twelve acres, one 
mile from the center of town on the Princeton road, 
where the first County asylum was afterward built, 
and with his own hands, almost entirely, he erected 
for himself a comfortable house. With cultivating 
his few acres of land, keeping his own cow and 
poultry he managed with a very small salary from 
the Missionary society and very slim contributions 
from the people, to make a comfortable living. 

Mr. Butler seemed particularly adapted to the 
position in the new country, of establishing and en- 
couraging churches in whatever new field he labored. 



/ 



-30- 



He was cheerful and hopeful under all discourage- 
ments that came in his way. He was never known 
to make an engagement that was not promptly ful- 
filled, and he spent hours in labor while others were 
taking their ease. Industrious habits and punctu- 
ality were strong features in his character. He ed- 
ucated one of his sons at Crawfordsville College, 
Hon. John M. Butler, of Indianapolis. He had also 
another son, Anson R. Butler, who lives in De 
Witt, Iowa. 

In 1834 Mr. Butler was appointed to take charge 
of a church at Washington, Ind., to which place he 
removed, and to his clerical duties he added those 
of a school he established, which at that time was 
considered the best in the state. He was much be- 
loved and respected by his church and congrega- 
tion. A few years later he moved to Boonville, 
Warrick county, Ind., where he also did a good 
work. From this place his excellent and lovely 
wife was called to a better home. Her life had been 
all that a Christians should be, kind and gentle, 
desiring more the comfort and pleasure of those 
around her than her own, visiting the sick, bring- 
ing words of consolation to the afflicted, cheering 
every one with her presence wherever she went; a 
pure and useful life was exchanged for a blessed 
immortality. 



-31- 



Mr. Butler, in due course of time, formed a union 
with another excellent woman, Miss Catherine 
Smith, of Boonville, and with his family removed 
again to a place without a church, a small town not 
far from St. Lonis, where his last work was to as- 
sist in establishing a church. After ten more years 
of faithful and successful service he passed to his 
reward. 

EEV. MR. M'AFEE, 

After the year 1834 the church enjoyed, tempo- 
rarily, the preaching of Rev. Mr. McAfee, who was 
at the same time laboring in Henderson, preaching 
there alternately every two weeks. He was a young 
man who had just entered the ministry. He preached 
excellent sermons, full of fire and pathos. Life was 
fresh and bright to him and the way to peace and 
happiness seemed easy and delightful. The expe- 
rience of after years may have made a change in his 
views. He may have found that there were ob- 
stacles in the way of a perfect life of which he had 
never dreamed, and pevhaps he found some system 
of theology by which these obstacles could be over- 
come. But a knowledge of his history closed when 
his labors here ended. Hejseemed a devout Chris- 
tain, was a pleasant social companion and was 
highly esteemed as a minister of the gospel. His 
home was Elkton, Ky., and all efforts to hear from 



-32- 



him have proven futile. He has probably fulfilled his 
life's mission and "rests from his labors." More 
than fifty years have elapsed since he was in Evans- 
ville and it is doubtful if anyone but the writer now 
remembers him. Will any one remember those of 
us who are now here, fifty years hence ? 




EEV. JEEEMIAH B. BABNES, IN 1836. 



<fe 4h & 4k ^> ^ ^ ^ & & 




^ ^ ^ ^ Y$ ^ ^ ^ ^$$» <$? \$ ^ ^/^r 

CHAPTER VI. 



It will give the reader pleasure to find an account 
of the pastorate of the second minister of this 
church in his own words. The days of his life hav- 
ing been prolonged more than a decade past the 
il three-score years and ten," being at this time 82 
years of age, a hearty, well preserved man, vigorous 
in intellect and a living example of one who has 
kept the commands of God, to whom the promise 
was given, "that thy days may be long upon the 
land which the Lord thy God hath given thee." 



BEV. JEEEMIAH K. BAEKES. 

"In the fall of 1836 I landed with my wife in 
Evansville, to spend the Sabbath, not knowing any 
one or whether we should find any preaching there. 
We were on our way to Illinois to meet the expec- 
tations of a friend and supply an open field there. 
I preached on the Sabbath in the little brick church 
built on the only hill in Evansville, about fifteen 
feet above the level, and then the only house of 



-34- 

worship in the place, and indeed the only one nearer 
than Princeton, a distance of twenty miles. The 
most notable thing about this little church was the 
largeness of its windows, as if the light of the sun 
and the free breezes were to be its first if not its 
best endowment. The pulpit was a large dry goods 
box, behind which I stood; the seats without cush- 
ions and with only a stay for the shoulders, which 
were better calculated to keep the hearers awake 
than the preachers voice. The singing was more 
sincere and devout than artistic. But the people 
seemed bright and interested in my sermon and 
met me at the close of the services with cordiality 
and we were soon no longer strangers. Learning 
who we were and that we had come West to grow 
up with the people and do good as we found oppor- 
tunity, they urged us to cast in our lot with them. 
The sisters soon gathered around my wife and 
found that she had to a large extent the chief glory 
of womanhood, the power to make warm friends 
and keep them. The simple sincerity of her piety, 
the largeness of her faith, together with her bright 
intelligence gained the confidence and co-operation 
of all. 

"The place at that time was indulging in large 
expectations of growth and prosperity from the 
canal which was in progress and was to terminate 



-35- 



there. The population at that date was supposed 
to be something over 2,000. The back country was 
good, heavily timbered but not well settled. 

"There seemed to be lawyers and doctors enough 
for a large city, their range for practice was wide 
and all seemed to have enough to do, the roads in 
winter being anything but inviting. My first 
knowledge of Corduroy roads was gained from one 
leading to Stringtown, which place had the advan- 
tage of being on a hill and not in a valley, but not 
out of the mud, as the clay sub-soil found its way 
easily on top in wet weather and made the boot- 
black a desirable institution. 

u The cause of education was mostly in the hands 
of the good Elder Chute, who was for some years 
the chief, if not the only pedagogue. I was for some 
time the only resident minister except Brother Par- 
rett and Brother Wheeler, local Methodist preach- 
ers, good Englishmen who did valuable service in 
the early days. The little brick church had now 
become the gathering place for all denominations, 
who took turns in edifying the people. Brother 
Hunter, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, was 
known as the chief ''Son of Thunder, 11 and when he 
came all felt the need of larger quarters. He was 
a grand camp meeting preacher and made the woods 
resound. 



-36- 



"It was not long before other denominations 
found places for regular worship and left us in full 
possession of the church. 'Old Aunt Jenny,' a slave 
from Virginia, was the sexton and the only colored 
person in the place. She did very well, only when 
the long stove pipe swayed out of line and sprung 
a leak then her white eyes and teeth showed her in 
trouble. The pulpit that followed the dry goods 
box was a primitive model and would bear all the 
pounding that Brother Hunter could give it and af- 
forded a good deal of "stomping" ground. The Sun- 
day school, after the varied experiences common to 
new places, fell into the hands of Brother Conrad 
Baker, and prospered fairly well. 

"About the time of my coming to Evansville the 
strife and controversies between the old and new 
school in the Presbyterian church were at their 
height. As I had just come from New Haven I was 
suspected of the New School heresy. Some of the 
fathers in the Vincennes Presbytery took sides 
against me, and without any trial of my opinions, 
declared the pulpit at Evansville vacant and sent 
a brother to notify the church and order the Trus- 
tees to turn me out. He came, was politely treated 
and wheu he had fulfilled his mission he left. The 
earthquake only induced a little smoke which soon 
passed away. The older members, those who had 



-37- 



built the church and paid all that had been paid on 
it, still declared me their pastor — that my dismissal 
had been without a hearing and unconstitutional 
and that no change should be made, and directed 
the sexton to open the doors and I preached as 
usual. Whatever belief or doctrine I held to be 
true, the Trustees and Elders agreed that they cor- 
responded with theirs, and the church was declared 
New School. 

u The next season I went to the Salem Presbytery 
and was cordially received, and they sent a brother 
to install me in 1838. There were a few persons 
who had only been in the place a short time and 
joined the church, who held what were called Old 
School views who were dissatisfied with the state of 
things, and they in due time secured an organiza- 
tion of their own, which seemed at the time quite 
unnecessary, but the rapid growth of the city has de- 
veloped the fact that their services have been needed 
and that they have accomplished more good work 
than could have been done by one church alone 
however united. Since the action of the General 
Assembly we rejoice to feel that the chasm has dis- 
appeared accross which the Old and New School 
shook hands. I had not been long in the city be- 
fore I discovered many evidences that the laws of 
social morality had not been strictly regarded. The 



-38- 



sosialism and infidelity at New Harmony had scat- 
tered the seeds of evil like thistle down into every 
neighborhood, and many of the most influential 
men of the region had given their example on the 
wrong side. I felt that the Gospel o£ the Seventh 
commandment was eminently needed to save the 
foundations of society and all the best interests of 
Christian civilization. I gave previous notice that 
I would preach on the subject. Many of my friends 
feared that I was stepping on a magazine that 
would let me down and destroy my influence. The 
house was crowded, but the women of the church 
were none of them present. The worst element of 
the place made a request that I would preach the 
same sermon again the next Sabbath, and had 
planned to break up the meeting. 

"I consented to preach. I went to some of the 
most influential ladies and told them the caus? was 
their cause and that I needed their presence and 
sanction. A goodly number came the next Sab- 
bath, and to a full house I repeated all I had said 
before and with greater force. There was not a 
ripple of disturbance, but profound attention to the 
end. Some were asked why they did not carry out 
their programme. They said "they did not see any 
place where they could begin. 11 One of my best 
friends, a graduate of Yale College, said that if 



-39- 



President D wight were present to preach on such a 
subject he might do some good, but for a young 
man just from the Seminary it was a hazardous un- 
dertaking. But I concluded that as Dr. Dwight 
was not there and I was, duty called me to do the 
best I could. I felt that I could appeal safely to 
men who had enjoyed early religious training in 
•other lands and to the scions of old Puritan stock. 
I referred them to the dear homes that gave them 
birth, to protect the sacred honor of their family 
and give their influence and practice in favor of all 
that is noble and pure in life. I have always re- 
joiced that I had the faithfulness to speak the right 
word at the right time leaving all the results with 
God, which were, as far as known, very satisfact- 
ory. Other ministers echoed the trumpet I had 
sounded, and the best public opinion was hence- 
forth on the side of social virtue. 

u After our Methodist brethren had completed 
their church, the noted John Newland Maffit came 
and held a revival meeting, and by his eloquence 
gathered into their fold over two hundred, and in 
two years time there were but two persons who re- 
mained in the church, all having joined on proba- 
tion, giving evidence of being true Christians by a 
better life, and it was seen that these persons had 
been regular attendants on divine worship and un- 



-40- 



der bible instruction. The Cumberland brethren 
were devoted and full of zeal, and by their camp meet- 
ings and occasional preaching in town and at other 
places, had a measure of success. 

"Brother Laman of the Episcopal church was a 
devoted Christian and soon succeeded in securing a 
good church and congregation. As population in- 
creased the cause of education became more impor- 
tant. Several good teachers had met with success. 
As my second wife had been a successful teacher in 
a Seminary, I was encouraged to build a house 
which would accomodate my little family and af- 
ford room for a school for young ladies. This was 
done, and many pupils will remember through life 
the gentle ways of their teacher, her earnest morals 
and religious instructions. It was a difficult matter 
for her to take the place of the first Mrs. Barnes in 
the hearts of the people, but she did so and formed 
many life long friendships that will be renewed 
and grow brighter in Heaven. 

u In time Public schools were established which 
made private enterprise less important except in the 
departments of higher education for which the Col- 
leges and Seminaries of the land provide. It was 
always gratifying to us to feel that we were sowing 
the seed and laying foundations in our new and 
great country that God would sooner or later em- 



-41- 



ploy for His own glory and the triumph of his 
Kingdom. We had all the compensation we ex- 
pected in the days of comparitively small things. I 
was settled on a salary of $600, which, though not 
fully paid, proved enough with hard work and 
economy to meet our necessities and left some prop- 
erty we bought at a low figure, which at the end of 
the nine years, when we left Evansville, had risen 
much in value. I have been rejoiced to hear from 
time to time of the Church, where I began my first 
labors, and of the growth of the city. Very few of 
my early friends and fellow-workers are left to 
thank God for what they see and to pray for greater 
things to come. But, Oh, the joy when we shall 
join the dear ones gone before! 'and see how the 
little one has become a thousand and a small one a 
strong nation. 

The above account of the pastorate of the Rev. 
J. R. Barnes is full and preserves a record of some 
of the most important events that ever occurred in 
the Church. His ministry was very successful, 
turning the tide of public opinion decidedly against 
vice in all its forms and giving it a check it had 
never before received. Card playing and drinking 
had no longer any open defenders among those who 
indulged in these practices, and people were willing 
to listen to sermons against these evils. 



-42- 



Mr. Barnes was born in Southington, Conn., and 
was a graduate of Yale College, and studied for the 
ministry at the same College. Mrs. Barnes, who 
came to Evansville with her husband, lived only 
about a year after coming to the place and left one 
son, Charles S. Barnes, now of Chicago, partner in 
the well known publishing house of A. S. Barnes 
& Co. 

All that Mr. Barnes says of his wife is true, and 
much more that is good might be said. As she is 
remembered, she was a perfect type of excellence, 
combining all the good qualities of her who u sat 
at Jesus feet," with the best traits of the sister 
u who was careful about many things," though the 
cares of life never gave her any trouble — the priva- 
tions and inconveniences of a new country never 
disturbed her placid and happy disposition. Her 
duties, of which she had many, were all dilligently 
performed and seemed a pleasure to her. Her re- 
ligion was of an exalted kind, she seemed to find 
Heaven upon earth, every act of her life savored of 
grace, and she was well prepared for the Heavenly 
home to which she was so soon to be called. 

The building occupied as a Seminary which Mr. 
Barnes built, stands on the corner of Chestnut 
and Third, and is the house now occupied by Mrs. 
Oillison Maghee. 



-43- 



Leaving Evansville, Mr. Barnes, beloved and re- 
spected by all who knew him, sought another 
field of labor in Minnesota, where he organized sev- 
eral churches and was also influential in establish- 
ing a College under the patronage of a church he 
had founded. 

After living twenty-six years in Minnesota he re- 
retired from active service and made his home in 
Marietta, Ohio, with his relatives and friends. At 
this place he celebrated his Golden wedding. Shortly 
after he was bereaved of his excellent companion, 
and in 1890 returned to Evansville and married one 
of his former parishioners, Mrs. Eliza T. Drew, who 
had been for many years a prominent and honored 
member of Walnut Street Church. There is some- 
thing a little romantic and also pathetic in the 
union of these friends of long ago. Their home in 
childhood was in New Haven, Conn. The middle 
of their life was spent in Evansville, and after be- 
ing widely separated for years they returned to the 
home of their younger days, and as the shades of 
evening seemed to gather over their pathway of 
life, the old time friends united their destinies, de- 
termined to cheer and encourage each other till the 
end of their journey, where the reward of an earn- 
est and useful life will fall to the lot of each. 



-44- 



The marriage of the venerable couple was cele- 
brated at Walnut Street Church in the presence of 
many witnesses and warm friends, and was prob- 
ably the most memorable wedding that has ever 
taken place there, owing to the advanced age of the 
couple, the groom having two years before passed 
the fourscore mile-stone, and the bride being but a 
few years his junior. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes now re- 
side in Marrietta, Ohio, where they expect to pass 
their remaining days. Borne safely on the stream 
of time past all the storms and quicksands of life 
they peacefully await the summons to the haven of 
Heavenly rest. 





JUDGE WILLIAM OLMSTED. 



CHAPTER VII. 



This history of the church would not be com- 
plete without mention being made of some of its 
prominent members. There were some of the love- 
liest type of Christian men and women in the church 
in its earliest days, that through the period of more 
than half a century, it has ever been the writers 
privilege to know. In saying this it may also be 
said that the mantle of these good people has fallen 
on some of those who now occupy the places they 
once filled and no greater inheritance on earth 
could be desired than they possess. 



JUDGE WILLIAM OLMSTED, 
Of Honored and Blessed Memory. 

His name was for many years a household word 
in all the families where he was known. He was 
one of the earliest settlers in this country, having 
come here in 1817. He was an old man in 1834, 



-46- 



and the writer can never forget the cordial greeting 
he gave to the new comer to a Western home. He 
was an educated man, was born in the state of New 
York, and with his talents and piety he was a host 
in this new country. He was Judge of the Court, 
and his opinion on all matters of interest was sought 
and it had a powerful influence. He was an Elder 
in the church for many years, and he was foremost 
in every thing that was for the good of the com- 
munity in which he lived. On coming to the 
country he took up a large tract of Government 
land on Pigeon Creek and built a primitive double 
log-cabin, which was always a pleasant and desira- 
ble place to visit. His wife was an old-time gentle- 
woman and an excellent wife, who u looketh well to 
the ways of her household." and the royal cheer of 
that hospitable home was a great attraction as well 
as the genial welcome that was extended by the old 
Judge to his numerous friends. His pleasant stories 
of early times in these Western wilds were a source 
of great enjoyment to his young listeners to whom 
he was always particularly agreeable. His decend- 
ants may well be proud of their venerable ancestor. 
He died in 1865. 




MR. DANIEL CHUTE. 



-47- 



DANIEL CHUTE, 
Elder of Walnut Street Church. 

"Father Chute," as he was familiarly called, was 
another of the faithful who deserves to be men- 
tioned. His daily walk and conversation was such 
as to make him honored and remembered by all who 
knew him. 

Mr.Daniel Chute was the first Elder of the church 
and was a man of small statue, but like Daniel of 
old, though not called upon to encounter a den of 
lions, his courage at one time was brought forth in 
such a way as to make him ever after renowned for 
bravery with those who knew the circumstances in 
which he was placed. 

At the time of the division of the Presbyterian 
church into Old and New school, 'Father Chute, 1 as 
an Elder, attended the Yincennes Presbytery, and in 
the language of a beloved pastor, the incident is 
given: "To question the Presbyterianism of Daniel 
Chute was like questioning the Presbyterianism of 
John Calvin himself. Mr. Chute loved the doctrines 
of the church and loved the polity of the church, 
and when the Vincennes Presbytery turned its re- 
buke upon him it was not for heresy — it dared not 
do that — it was for not approving the excinding act 
of 1837 and because he was not willing to accord 
with the almost unanimous vote of the Presbytery 



-48- 



thanking the great Head of the church that the 
once united church in our land was divided." In 
the face of all this opposition he dared boldly to 
stand up in defence of his own principles, which at 
this late day and in view of the reunion that has 
since taken place shine out in their true light. With 
a prophetic eye he saw without doubt the harsh and 
unkind feelings such a separation among old time 
friends might engender, and his kind heart rebelled 
against such estrangement, and the wisdom of his 
judgement and right feeling in this matter will al- 
ways be respected and approved. It is to be hoped 
that the brotherhood will never again be disturbed 
by such dissension and we shall see how these 
Christians u love one another." 

This good man, like Eli of old, had his trials. 
His example was always all that it should have 
been before his family, gentle and kind and in the 
simplicity of his heart and true faith he dedicated 
his children to God with implicit faith that He to 
whom he confided all his dearest interests would in 
His own good time gather them into his fold. With 
the memory of that blessed father they ought, with 
grateful hearts for such a parent, to devote the re- 
maining days of their life to the service of Him 
whom their father loved and served. His daugh- 
ters were exemplary women. His youngest, Miss 



-49- 



Charlotte Chute, married Governor Baker, who was a 
prominent member of Walnut Street Church. 
'Father Chute' for many years led the choir and, 
though time somewhat changed the melody of his 
voice, he always pitched the tune, and he is without 
doubt singing with the Seraphs to-day. 



^^^^^^^^^ 



CHAPTER YIIL 



REV. A. E. LORD, 

The Rev. Mr. Lord took charge of the church in 
1848 and remained until 1849. 

He was a young man, earnest and faithful and 
very ambitious to see the church prosperous and he 
knew enough of human nature and the world at 
large to know that success was sure to attend even 
the appearance of prosperity, and it was through 
his influence that the little primitive church on the 
Hill was improved. The particular object which 
he seemed most desirous to accomplish was the re- 
moval of the gable-end of the church and extend- 
ing its dimensions, but for some reason, probably 
the want of funds, the church was only remodeled 
in the interior. The portico was prefixed and the 
small belfry with a neat spire surmounting it. A 
bell was introduced and, sixteen years after the 
erection of the building 

"The sound of the Church going hell 
These valleys and rocks never heard." 



-51- 



now rung out in silvery tones, calling the people to 
the worship of the living and true God. The tak- 
ing out of the gable-end of the church which Mr. 
Lord so devoutly desired, was reserved for the good 
Pastor McCarer's day. In 1851, the church then 
being quite too small to accommodate the growing 
congregation, it was extended twenty-nine feet, 
and the little gallery occupied by the choir was in- 
troduced, which increased the capacity of the church 
in a very satisfactory manner. 

Rev. Mr. Lord preached very fine sermons, he was 
a thorough student and gave most of his time to his 
books. His visits, as a pastor, were not considered 
as necessary by him as good, strengthening, spirit- 
ual food for his congregation. His placid counte- 
nance showed peace of mind and contentment, the 
world never failed to look bright to him. This con- 
clusion was arrived at by the fact that whenever he 
made a visit he never failed to make the same re- 
mark. After greeting his friends in the usual man- 
ner, he always said: "It's a very fine day to-day " 
this he was known to have said when it was even 
raining. His mind always seemed to be upon sub- 
jects on which he failed to speak in social intercourse; 
in other words he was absent minded, but his ser- 
mons indicated thought and study which were 
highly creditable to him. His ministrations were 



-52- 



rewarded by the interest taken in improving the 
church, and the additions to its number of members 
during his stay, which was only about one year. 
He removed to New York and very little is since 
known of him, except that like the man in the old 
times who was bidden to a feast and could not come, 
he had "married a wife." 



KEV. SAMUEL K. SNEED, 

Rev. Samuel K. Sneed became pastor of the church 
in 1846, remaining until 1848. 

He was an earnest and faithful preacher, never 
failing to declare the whole counsel of Grod in no 
unmistakable terms, telling the sinner and repro- 
bate what would become of them if they did not 
make haste to "flee from the wrath to come." He 
quoted his Master's words to them, calling them a 
"generation of vipers," "children of the devil." He 
could describe all the wicked feelings of the human 
heart, more perhaps than a great many of the peo- 
ple in his church ever heard about or experienced. 
In fact he had a very poor opinion of human nature 
generally. His sermons made an impression upon 
the hearer that could never be forgotten. There 
was more that could be remembered in them than 
in most discourses one hears. He was careful to 
impress everyone with the idea that the soul of a 



-53- 



rich man was of no more value in the sight of God 
than that of a poor man, and the oft repeated text, 
"your sin will find you out," went straight to the 
conscience of the hearer. 

His explanation of faith was new and impress- 
ive. The Christians faith he compared to a man 
walking in the dark with a lantern. It did not give 
him light beyond a certain distance. When that 
point was reached the light still shone as far beyond 
as it had done before. So the person who walks by 
faith just goes by the light given him from above, 
knowing that for all his journey his light will be 
sure, guiding his footsteps as he needs it till he 
reaches his home in Heaven. 

In the lives of good and pious men there are 
sometimes amusing incidents, and the reader will 
perhaps excuse the relation of such a one, as this 
book is not purely a religious one. Mr. Sneed was 
a man of uncommonly nervous temperament and he 
sometimes found himself in circumstances where it 
was exceedingly hard to control his nervousness. A 
very funny incident occurred one Sabbath during 
service, which will illustrate how much one may 
suffer from that cause. During the service a dog, 
which had perhaps followed his country owner to 
church, remained outside, and as time seemed to 
pass wearily to him waiting for his master, he be- 



-54- 



gan to bark in a most furious manner. The parson's 
face grew red — and redder. He cleared his throat 
and used his handkerchief in a most sonorous man- 
ner and seemed to lose the thread of his discourse, 
and as he found himself less and less able to recover 
from the annoyance, he said: "Brother Orr will 
you please see if any arrangement can be made for 
the accommodation of that dog." 

The good brother went down the aisle in the 
most quiet manner possible, and whether he read 
the riot act or the commandments to the dog or not 
we never knew. The noise, however, subsided and 
the excitement ceased. 

Mr. Sneed had been reared in affluence in a slave 
state, and the close economy and comparatively 
straightened circumstances of an Indiana preacher 
were very unsuited to his taste or requirements. He 
was really a pious man, but he often confessed with 
sorrow that he was obliged to wage a continual 
warfare with the old natural self that was still in 
him. He was an excellent pastor, sympathizing 
with the afflicted, dispensing the consolations of 
religion to the sick and distressed at all times and 
seasons. 




CHAPTER IX. 



EEV. WM. H. m'cAREK. 

The next minister who filled the pulpit of the 
"Little Church on the Hill" was the Rev. W. H. 
McCarer. He continued to be a most acceptable 
pastor for eighteen years and a half, and as all his 
words now seem to those who knew and loved him 
"like apples of gold in pictures of silver," a sermon 
of his appears on the next page.which was delivered 
in the First Avenue Church after he dissolved 
his connection with the Walnut Street Church, 
and it was afterward repeated by request in the 
church of which he had formerly been pastor. 

"This discourse reviews his thirty years service in 
this city and is replete with remininscences of great 
interest to the reader and is full of pathetic re- 
flections." 



-56- 



Sekmon by Rev. W. H. McCarer. 

Also, now, behold, my witness is in Heaven, and my record is on high 

—[Job 16; 19.] 

On the last Saturday evening of the month of 
October, 1840, with my wife and three children, I 
landed at your wharf; and on the next morning, 
28th day of October, the Sabbath, began my public 
ministry, as pastor-elect of the old Presbyterian 
Church, whose edifice was called then by the old 
residents, by the various epithets: "Church in the 
Woods," "Church on the Hill," and "Little brick 
Church," occupied a site on Second street, where are 
now located the offices of the Demokrat and Cour- 
ier. It was still "on the Hill," but the street was 
graded some ten feet below, so that the place of 
worship was reached by flights of stairs on either 
side, admitting you to a pillared portico, which was 
surmounted by a pretty spire, neither of any 
special pretentions, and yet giving some conspic- 
uousness to this temple of the Lord. 

As our boat neared the wharf, the sun had just 
hidden itself beneath the crimson West, and the bell 
of the little spire was chiming its evening call, and, 
to the question of my young wife, "what bell is 




REV. WM. H. McCARER. 



-57- 



that?" my answer was, "that is our bell calling the 
choir together for rehearsal." 

I wish I could give the history of that choir.* 

By invitation of the church I had spent some 
three weeks in the city in the spring of the year, 
which visit led the church to extend me a call to 
become its permanent pastor, the delay to entering 
immediately upon my work being determined by 
prudential considerations connected with the health 
of my family. 

There is a popular impression that the time of my 
coming here marked my ordination to the ministry. 
This is not so; for six years and a half previously 
U I dwelt among mine own people," constituting 
one of the strongest rural congregations within the 
boundaries of the Philadelphia Presbytery. 

It may not be amiss here to say that the corres- 
pondence which resulted in my settlement in the 
West was carried on by Ex-Governor Baker. My 
name had been suggested to the church by the dis- 
tinguished Albert Barnes, whom I had known from 

*It is deserving of mention that it was then, and for years after, 
under the conduct of the late Col. C. K. Drew, of the old Exchange, 
on Lower First street; where, in its then seemingly spacious Dining 
Room, neai iy all the Cbuiches of the city, through the generosity 
of "mine host," held numerous festivals and concerts. 

Colonel Drew's son was then quite young, but presided over the 
Melodeon, and for years after entering the larger edifice, he was 
Church organist. For services during the war he was brevetted, 
and is now known as his father was, as Colonel C. K. Drew, being 
■till, with his accomplished wife, members of the Church and ef-i 
ficient members of the Choir. Thirty years in this good service of 
the Sanctuary. 



-58- 



my youth, and who recommended me to the church. 

Governor Baker was the first man to take me by 
the hand when I stepped upon the shore of your 
city, inviting me to his humble cottage — still 
standing in its simplicity, but the flowers and wood- 
bine gone with her who twined them and made it a 
home of beauty. There I ate my first meal, being 
subsequently entertained by Mr. Sumuel Orr and 
his excellent family. These two men — I name it 
with pride and gratitude — were among my first 
friends, and they have been among the firmest and 
best friends I ever expect to have on earth. 

Well do I remember the smiles of that beautiful 
Sabbath morning, that, together with the smiles of 
my people, gave me a welcome to my work. This 
work began by making my way first to the Sabbath 
School, where I annonnced to the children that I 
had come to be their pastor, and then, afterward, to 
the general congregation, where I delivered my in- 
augural discourse from the text: u For I determined 
not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ 
and Him crucified," and here, after these many 
checkered years, I find myself meditating the in- 
quiry that has protruded itself a thousand times — 
"Have I been faithful to my avowal and my 
pledge? Have I sought to know, among the peo- 
ple of this city, nothing but Jesus and Him cru- 



-59- 



cified?" As I ponder the simple but momentous 
question, I am silent, remembering that God only 
knows — that the One only infallible witness is in 
Heaven — that the only infallible record is on high. 

It were natural, and if there were time, it would 
be interesting to dwell upon what the city then 
was, its dimensions, its appearance, and this in con- 
trast with its present showing. 

It was then a city of perhaps less than 6,000 in- 
habitants. It was seemingly u in transitu," and 
from being a somewhat pretentious village, with 
some little notoriety, was stepping forward to chal- 
lenge a place among the stalwart cities of the 
State. Its proportions and weight were very mod- 
est. It had a quadrisected square, at one intersec- 
tion of which was a little green Court House, at 
another a wooden jail building with its annexed 
Sheriff's residence (Mr. Terry its occupant.) Oppo- 
site the Court House was a diminutive market house 
and just as diminutive a school edifice, and the re- 
maining fourth, where the Court House now stands, 
was, I think, the resort or stand for country wagons. 

Our noble wharf — with no superior along the 
whole Ohio's length — was just completed, the grad- 
ing of the contiguous streets in progress. Tele- 
graphic communication, I think, had just been es- 
tablished with Louisville, and as yet a novelty. 



-60- 



There was no railroad, but the construction of one 
I think, to Mt. Carmel via Princeton, was enthusi- 
astically discussed. But the consummation most 
devoutly wished for of all things was the canal; 
that was to make all things new and particularly 
great, and our city metropolitan. There was but 
one railroad in all the State, from Madison to In- 
dianapolis. 

If we except the old warehouse on Water street, 
below Pine, there were but three buildings at all 
conspicuous. The State Bank, still standing on 
Main street, and the then imposing brick residence 
of Hon. Willard Carpenter, not fully completed, 
and with a deep slough between it and the main 
portion of the city; and that now known as Barnes* 
residence on Water street, contiguous to Sunset 
Park. These large buildings, at that time among 
the humble dwellings and cottages around, had a 
very formidable appearance. 

The city was indeed of contracted and indefinite 
extent. There was but little of it beyond Third 
and Fourth streets from the river. Where you now 
go to the depot of the E. & T. H. R. R., you then 
went to the country, although very near to the now 
depot, stood the folly and failure, entitled at that 
time, u The Bull's Head Tavern," in that part of the 
city entering upon Main, and a few blocks there- 



-61- 



upon I still meet with old u land marks, 1 ' but prac- 
tically, I can say I have seen the whole city rebuilt 
and built. Of the old part the then old buildings have 
given place to new, and where there was nothing, 
we have now either massive buildings for com- 
merce and manufacturing, palatial homes or mul- 
titudinous cottages. The church buildings were all 
small and of simple style. The most pretentious so 
far as an attempt at church architecture proper is 
concerned, was the building known as Viele Hall. 
And there were only eight of these plain structures 
— one of them only still used for divine worship, 
though greatly transformed — St. Paul's Episcopal 
Church, corner of First and Chestnut streets.* 
I now call to mind twenty-eight new church edifices 
that have been dedicated to public worship since 
my coming, and in the consecration of not a few of 
which I have taken some formal or iuf ormal part. 

Only two clergymen beside myself, who were 
here in 1849, are here now. Rev. J. V. Dodge had 
just then dissolved his connection with the Vine 
Street Church, of which he was the first and for 
some ten years the very acceptable pastor. Rev. J. 
A. Saupert, of the German Lutheran Church is the 
oldest resident pastor in Evansvilie. He was on the 
ground when I came. 



♦Where this church stood is now a new and elegant church. -1891. 



-62- 



A few words as to the then state of religion and 
the work of evangelism and reform at that early 
date. 

The church of which I became pastor, now the 
Walnut Street Church, was small in numbers, per- 
haps not more than thirty actual members, but a 
most sterling and faithful nucleus to commence 
with. The church had been in existence twenty- 
eight years. We had, with the church and congre- 
gation, such men as Ex-Governor Baker, John 
Shanklin, Dr. Wilcox, Dr. Morgan, Daniel Chute, 
Judge Olmsted, Dr. Lindley, Myron Safford, Alan- 
son Warner, General James E. Blythe, J. EL 
Maghee,Judge Battell and Judge Matthew Foster. 

It is the impression that the last few years have 
been marked by a surprising breaking down of de- 
nominational prejudices. Yet I bear witness of no 
such prejudice when I came among the Christian 
people of Evansville. I found confiding Christian 
sympathy in all the denominations, and there was 
earnest co-working on the part of all. Practically, 
the feeling was, "let us help one another." 

This was exhibited in a marked degree in social 
and religious gatherings and entertainments at 
which, so general was the gathering together, that 
no matter which church spread the banquet, it was 
a puzzle to know which was the most fully repre- 



-63- 



sented by its good people. Christians then made 
common cause with one another. You "beheld how 
good and how pleasant it was for brethren to dwell 
together in unity.'" 

There was an epoch in the temperance work 
thirty years ago. A large part of the sterling men 
of the city were active "Sons of Temperance," hold- 
ing at the time very live meetings. The youth of 
the city were organized into "Cadets of Temper- 
ance." Foremost amongst the earnest promoters 
of these youthful clans was the late John Ingle, Jr. r 
president of E. & C. R. R. Popular monthly meet- 
ings were held, with never a lack of speakers, in the 
old Locust Street Church, and in my own, where 
the enthusiasm was often hardly less than is now 
witnessed in our Red Ribbon Halls. How I should 
love to have the walls of old Locust Street re-echo 
the fiery eloquence that thundered from some of the 
Nestros of that day !* 

Nor was there a lack of zeal in Sunday School 
work. The ideal school of to-day throws the school 

*A8 an evidence that, at an early date, the friends of temperance 
had som« earnestnens and not a little pluck, it is worthy of commem- 
oration that on an election day, the friends of one of the candidates 
procured a barrel of whisky, and knocking in the head and supply- 
ing a suitable supply of tin cups, advertised to the free voters in gen- 
eral and the friends of their candidate in particular that there was 
not only a supply of tickets but of free whisky, also, John Ingle, Jr., 
the moment he heard it. declared that that thing should not be, and, 
forthwith started for the barrel, and with the help of a friend or two, 
emptied its contents upon the ground amid the plaudits of the friends 
of temperance, and the anger and chagrin of its enemies. 



-64- 



of former years into insignificance,but twenty-six or 
twenty-eight years ago in this city a larger propor- 
tion of the children of outsiders were in our schools 
than are to be found there to-day. I know what I say. 

For several years monthly meetings were held, 
and by a system practically carried out, committees 
semi-annually canvassed the whole city with the in- 
tent to bring the very least child into some one of 
our schools, and not a few Christian workers re- 
member the golden age of our mission schools, 
memorable in Crescent City Hall, and which had 
its culmination a dozen years ago. Who go now 
into the desolate homes and tenants of our city ? 

I have seen the whole of our beautiful common 
school system germinate, bud, blossom and bring 
forth its beneficent fruit. There was no public 
school system when I came. The present system 
was inaugurated in 1853, having for its chief cham- 
pion and as worthy of all honor for grading it t° 
its proud rank, Horatio Q. Wheeler, Esq. — soon sec- 
onded as worthy coadjutor, by the Hon. Wm. 
Baker, for many years the Mayor of the city. 

But many think it time to refer to my own spec- 
ial work as a minister of Christ. In the third year 
of my ministry Grod so greatly prospered us that it 
was deemed necessary to enlarge our habitation, 
which to me then seemed as David expressed it, 



-65- 



"The Habitation of His Holiness; that place where 
His Honor dwelleth." 

The rear gable end of the building was removed 
and so extended that with the construction of a 
small organ gallery we had additional seating of at 
least one-third more. The growth of the church 
continued to be healthy and substantial. In the 
winter of 1856-7 a marked revival was enjoyed and 
many valuable additions to the church received. 
Two years after there was another season of awaken- 
ing and refreshing. 

In 1859 the church decided upon the erection of 
a new edifice. The foundations were then laid, and 
in March, 1860, the Church on the Hill" was no 
more, its venerable walls were removed, a few of 
the brick, however, sacredly preserved and lovingly 
incorporated in the new building on Walnut and 
Second streets. 

The memorial discourse, the last pronounced in 
the pioneer church, was published and is now in 
possesion of some of the older members of the 
church. 

The convenient basement of the then new build- 
ing was entered on the first Sunday of February, 
1851. It was a season of deep religious interest 
throughout the city during the winter, though, at 
that time, the excess of interest was abated. It was 



-66- 



one of the most remarkable works of grace known 
in the city. It commenced in the Locust Street M. 
E. Church, under God, through its pastor, Rev. Dr. 
Gillett, who seemed especially raised up and quali- 
fied from on high for that great event. The Wal- 
nut Street Church came in for its share of the 
blessing, and some sixty persons were then added 
to it, at its first communion in the new basement. 
The two years between 1861 and 1863 were spent 
in persistent effort to complete the edifice, and, on 
the first Sunday in February, 1863, the Rev. Dr. 
Tuttle, of Crawfordsville, preaching the discourse, 
the building was dedicated to the worship of the 
triune God, with thanksgiving, and the voice of 
melody. 

Five years longer I went in and out among my 
people, breaking unto them the word of life as I 
was able, at the end of which time I was led to the 
conclusion that my retirement from the pastorate 
was expedient, and I announced publicly that, at 
the next meeting of the Presbytery I would ask to 
be retired. The Presbytery consented to my request, 
and in April, 1868, after serving the church eigh- 
teen years and six months, my pastorate ceased, my 
pulpit was declared vacant and my official connec- 
tion with the people of Walnut Street at an end. 



-67- 



How quickly then thronged the memories of 
those eighteen years and more of the best years 
given to men. Years of ardor and the strength of 
one's manhood, and to me naturally embracing the 
chiefest of the work of my life. It was then I 
called to remembrance the years that were past, and 
there was forced upon my hearing what others did 
not hear — a voice that said: "Write Blessed are the 
dead that die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, 
saith the spirit, for they rest from their labors and 
their works do follow them." 

And I said to myself, through divine grace I 
hope to "die in the Lord." As to the resting from 
labor, I have never concerned myself much, for I 
have loved to work for the Master, and His yoke 
has never been grievous. But when I die — I said 
to myself — what will be the result of this very con- 
siderable portion of the best days of my life. Will 
my work follow me? Will anything remain for 
the generations to come ? Will the seed that I of- 
ten went forth weeping, scattering it here and 
there, will any of it remain and will it go on un- 
folding and unfolding harvest after harvest, so 
that, in the evening, I shall come rejoicing, bring- 
ing some of the sheaves with me ? 



-68- 



My heart's desire and prayer to God is that the 
Walnut Street Church may arise and shine and that 
the beauty of the Lord may ever be upon her. 

There are now some of my dearest brethren and 
friends, and from thence have gone many who are 
now entered into rest, having been cordial co-labor- 
ers with me, and toward whom I feel that I am 
moving, and with whom I shall take sweet counsel 
and talk of the loves and labors of the past. Sweet 
will be the greeting when we meet to see each other 
there, "knowing as we are known," to sit down in 
the Kingdom of our Father hereafter. 

Shortly after my retirement in 1868, I was ap- 
pointed one of the Secretaries of the American and 
Foreign Christian Union, traveling in the interest 
of its Missionary work. But in the spring of 1874, 
some of my friends urged upon my acceptance the 
pastorate of the Second Avenue Mission Work. I 
accepted it. Without detaining you here, you 
know matters led to a new organizatiou, with a 
change of location and the erection of this new and 
beautiful building, the First Avenue Church, which 
we are now seeking to put upon an enduring foun- 
dation, so that it may be to the people of this part 
of our city a fountain of good for years and years 
to come. 

But here a few reflections as to the manner and 



-69- 



matter of my life among you, and my convictions 
of what is the best way of making the Gospel a 
power through the churches and its ministry. 

As to the manner of my life, I think I can hon- 
estly say I have sought to be a true man, faithful 
in my calling, and ever ready to be to all the peo- 
ple u their servant for Jesus sake. 1 " I have aimed at 
all times and under all circumstances to stand up 
for the truth, and to stand up for the right. I have 
never laid aside the Gospel trumpet, and never 
knowingly given it an uncertain sound. I have 
worked in season and out of season, in my own 
church and as called upon in other churches, and 
among those who were of no church and as sheep 
without a shepherd. I have hastened to the call of 
the sick and dying at midnight as well as at mid- 
day. I have gone with the poor and with the rich, 
mid winter cold and summer heat, saying now, with 
due consideration, that in no case have I ever de- 
clined to speak for the truth or to visit the sick, or 
to attend funerals when I was able, Yea, and that 
I have often gone beyond my strength, and gone 
with joy. 

As to my preaching and my utterances for Christ's 
cause, it has been all the time the "old, old story." 
It has been Christ and Him crucified. I have had 
defined and positive convictions of truth, and he is 



-70- 



not a man who has not, and I have expressed my 
convictions, giving a reason of the hope that was 
in me. I have had my creed, not formulated from 
my own or any body else's philosophy, or after the 
wisdom of the world, but according to the Word of 
God. I have never been inclined to preach other 
than the words of truth as found in the Bible. The 
symbols of my denomination I love, and I accepted 
and adopted them cheerfully and voluntarily, ever 
and only interpreting them by the Word and not 
the Word by the symbols. From the beginning of 
my ministry I have held that the doctrines and 
principles of my denomination spiritually set forth, 
do most highly exalt God in his authority over men, 
and that they develop and foster righteousness, 
justice, truth and sincere liberty and good will in 
society, and that in setting them forth as a minis- 
ter, I was working to lead men nearer to Heaven, 
and aided in promoting the earthly interests of the 
community that I have long learned to love. 

And this allusion leads me to believe that while 
I have been emphatic and positive in preaching my 
honest individual belief, my fellow Christians, who 
differ from me in certain points of doctrine and 
principles, will bear me witness that I have never 
made myself offensive or unready to co-operate in 
the common work of the common salvation. In 



-71- 



building up my own denominational work, I have 
not depreciated the work of others. If I have had 
little ability to raise mortals to the skies, I have had 
none of the spirit to drag angels down. 

Thirty years of preaching, and I have yet to 
preach my first controversial sermon. There has 
been no sectarianism in my heart, no bitterness in 
my thought, no intolerance on my tongue. I have 
labored in all the denominations, and this was par- 
ticularly so during the earlier days of my ministry 
when our mutual needs were greater. By kindly 
invitation, and I think acceptable, I have ministered 
in homes of affliction and bereavement. I have 
been widely among the people in times of gladness 
and sorrow, at the cradle and at the coffin, at the 
bridal and at the burial; at the altar and at the 
bier; weeping with those that wept and rejoicing 
with those that rejoiced. 

I cannot recount the number of baptismal and 
wedding ceremonies in which I have participated. I 
find parties to these offices of mine everywhere over 
the city. I have baptized children whose parents 
I had baptised in infancy, and have married 
parties whose parents I was privileged to unite in 
holy wedlock. Children who were trained in my 
first Sabbath School are now found in substantial 
departments of life in extensive business firms; 



-72- 



found connected with the press and in the pulpit? 
in office in the service of the State, and in service 
of the United States. Two Superintendents in this 
Church Sunday School, the present, and the one 
who has just retired, and the present Superinten- 
dent of the Walnut Street School, were scholars in 
my earlier school, and in my school of to-day, and 
as members of this church are children of parents 
who as Sunday School children listened to me 
thirty years ago. 

Now, in hastening these reminiscences to a con- 
clusion, I am not here to deny or to affirm, nor am 
I anxious to have any opinion even offered as to how 
much my poor efforts have aided, if at all, any of 
these in their life work or life journey, or whether 
those efforts may help to exhibit them at last as 
among the redeemed of the Lord when He cometh 
to make up His jewels. I am content to know that 
the Master whom I serve is keeping the account 
and keeping it correctly, and I know that he will, 
anyhow, give me better than I deserve. Behold, 
my witness is in Heaven; my record is on high. 

I had wanted very greatly in this memorial dis- 
course to speak particularly to a question that comes 
up naturally and might be stated thus: After thirty 
years labor and observation, do you think that, as 
Christians and Churches, we are improving in our 



-73- 



ways of reaching men by the Gospel, and are our 
methods of practical work better, and is pure Chris- 
tianity increasing, and are the churches of the city 
keeping pace with the progress of the city? A 
proper answer would furnish theme for two dis- 
courses. 

Our working for the extension of religion can 
never be improved upon, unless in the main it leads 
men to see that they are sinners, lost and con- 
demned, and that they must perish forever unless 
they repent and be converted. Our Gospel must be 
the same Gospel preached at Pentecost eighteen 
hundred years ago. We shall never save men by 
representing them to be any better than lost in sin 
and under God's just displeasure. Nor are we likely 
to extend a pure and vigorous religion by lowering 
its claims or authority. 

My long and deliberate conviction both as a 
worker and a looker on, is that Christianity gains 
nothing by compromises of any kind, nor by lower- 
ing her claims to suit the exactions of either pleas- 
ure loving professors or a pleasure loving world. 
Christians must show that their religion is a re- 
ligion of happiness, and kindness and love, and 
that, so far as they can do it without sacrifice of 
principles or duty, they are "willing to be all things 
to all men that they may by all means save some," 



-74- 



doing it for the Gospel's sake. These have been the 
views by which I have shaped my life among you, 
and have sought to conform my church conduct, 
say, as to church entertainments and matters of 
financial need, where the usage is in the direction 
that u the end justifies the means," or "let us do just 
this little evil that good may come." This is not 
a case where, if the mountain will not come to 
Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain. 
Without bitterness or ill will, or fault finding, I 
have withheld myself from all these things, and 
expressed my fears as to their tendencies; and never 
did I feel a stronger conviction than I do at this 
moment that these things have weakened and neu- 
tralized the moral power of the church, and detrac- 
ted from her divine majesty as the elect of Christ. 

The moral power of all of our churches would at 
the present time be vastly greater than it now is, if 
from the beginning, consistently and constantly it 
had shunned the entanglements of folly and doubt- 
ful morality and doubtful expediency. Yea, if it- 
had in the spirit of meekness and kindness rather 
e rred on the side of severity than of the laxness and 
licentiousness into which too many have been 
drawn. The precipice is to have a wide berth rather 
than to be approached too closely. 

The same is clearly uttering the severer doctrines 
of the Gospel. Do it lovingly and kindly, but utter 



-75- 



even the unpalatable truths of God. An emascula- 
ted Christianity is a powerless region. 

As to the relative advance of the churches com- 
pared with the growth of the city, and perhaps I 
ought to speak only of my own denomination, I do 
think that we have not done all that we could have 
done if we had been more faithful. The influence 
of our church is not what it should be nor what it 
could soon be if we were consecrated, united, wide 
awake and working. Without work there can be 
no harvest. This city is a field white for harvest- 
ing, but who will be the laborers? 

There needs be co-operation among all our 
churches. We are falling behind in the race — 
there is no concealing the matter, but past losses 
may be retrieved, and now is the time to do it. To 
delay it may be too late forever. Each church 
should organize for its individual work, and we 
should be in correspondence with one another. Let 
us remember the Captain of our salvation holds us 
responsible that we lose no more ground, but go up 
at once and possess the land. 

A single thought as to my present work. I feel 
that I am now in my last earthly enterprise in the 
glorifying of Christ. I thank Him for what He 
has permitted me to do — enabled me to do — but 
there is just one thing more that I beg at His hands. 



-76- 



It is that He would give me grace and strength r 
with your faith and labor of love, my people, to 
bring our little church into such conditions, that I 
may say it is a success; that is, beyond the contin- 
gent and so free from every embarrassment which 
it is in our power, with the sympathy of its friends 
to free it, that we can see our way clear to do the 
one only grand work which any church should care 
to do — the bringing of honor to Christ through the 
abundant saving of souls. 

I feel when I can do this — bring this church and 
lay it at the feet of Jesus as a trophy, and say "here, 
Jesus, am I and my people, the people whom thou 
hast given me, and here is our work. We bring it 
that it may be a star in the crown of a Saviour's re- 
joicing." I feel that when I can do this I can then 
say, with the aged Simeon, "Lord, now lettest thy 
servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy 
salvation." 

And I don't want my work in Evansville to close 
until I can do this. I have referred to work in the 
days of my prime, my undiscounted manhood. The 
strength of those days may not be in me now, but 
I know that God is ready to give me the strength 
needful for all that this enterprise demands — if only 
you will work with me — and so with no vaunting 
spirit, but humbly depending upon divine grace, I 



-77- 



offer myself to God and to you as ready to work 
with, you all and with the foremost of you all, and, 
being your leader do challenge you to keep up with 
me in whatever may be agreed upon as most likely 
to prosper the church and ensure the blessing of 
God upon it. 

As I ask of the Master, so will I — so do I ask of 
you, His people — "What wilt thou have me to do?*' 
Ready to spend and to be spent until God shall 
crown us with blessed victory. 



That "crown of blessed victory" is now his, and 
the community in which he lived felt individually 
bereft when he was taken from their midst. He 
was looked upon as a pattern of all that a minister 
ought to be. He was a devout and cheerful Chris- 
tian, a counsellor and friend, to all alike, a genial 
and agreeable companion. He had outlived the 
time when it seemed necessary for a minister to 
wear a long countenance and talk only on serious 
matters, and his pleasant face and cheerful greeting 
comes up before us, as he was cordially welcomed 
in all social gatherings among his friends. What- 
ever Mr. McCarer says of himself in the sermon is 
known to be true and is heartily responded to by 
all who knew him. 



-78- 



u My present work," of which Rev. Mr. McCarer 
speaks, was the First Avenue Church. By his ef- 
forts this church was sustained and built up, and 
if he could have remained with it till to-day he 
would have seen his wish realized in regard to its 
being u a success." The beautiful structure which 
stands on the corner of Second and Walnut is a 
grand monument to his memory. His zeal and 
perseverance were embodied in it as well as his de- 
vout desire to honor God by building a temple 
wherein to worship Him and sing praises to His 
holy name. The prosperity of this church in all 
these years is largely due to the principles inculca- 
ted by his earnest labor and his unselfish surrender 
of his own interests to the good of the church, and 
there have been many regrets since his death that 
his labors, to which the best years of his life were 
given were not more generously rewarded. The sal- 
ary he received, and with which he was satisfied, was 
insufficient to givt him that ease of body and mind 
that he richly deserved to enjoy. The purpose of 
building a church made it impossible to increase 
his salary as it should have been, and though never 
a hardy or robust man, he was seen cultivating his 
ground with all the energy of a farmer, to make 
his income a little more. If he could always have 
had a summer vacation such as the ministers of to- 



-79- 



day enjoy, his usefulness might have continued 
many years longer than it did. His home, at the 
head of Second street, has been sold to Miss Caro- 
lino Rathborne, of New York, for an Old Ladies' 
Home. It is a matter of regret that the property 
should ever have been allowed to go out of the 
family, particularly during the life time of his wife, 
Mrs. Sarah H. McCarer, who still survives him. 
Much to the regret of her many friends, Mrs. Mc- 
Carer now makes her home in Texas, owing to the 
removal of some members of her family, to that 
place, with whom she wished to reside. The fact that 
any particular publicity was always offensive to her 
and that she might some day see these pages will 
prevent all the good being said of her that ought to 
be. But with the hope that she will excuse, for 
friendship sake, just a few words will be said. It 
is true that no one in Evansville ever had more 
friends than she has left, her life in the eyes of all 
these friends has been perfect. 

The position of pastor's wife was never more ap- 
propriately filled than it has been by her, and she 
possesses all the traits of a kind hearted, noble, 
Christain woman, and deserves to be and is most 
kindly remembered by all who knew her and par- 
ticularly by the members of the church of which 
her husband was pastor. 




CHAPTER X. 



DR. LINDLEY AND MRS. LINDLEY. 

There was also Dr. Lindley and wife, who still 
live in the memory of some of the oldest residents. 
They came to this country from Connecticut and 
made their home in Stringtown. The doctor was 
for many years anE lder in the church. This couple 
were well advanced in life when they sought a new 
home in the West, and the New England principles 
instilled in them in youth bore excellent fruit when 
transplanted to a new climate and new surround- 
ings. In goodness and benevolence they could not 
be excelled, the doctor administering to the poor and 
afflicted "without money and without price, 1 ' and 
his wife binding up the broken hearted and giving 
of her meagre substance without stint to those who 
were more needy than herself. At that early date 
Dr. Lindley was the first person who ever advocated 
woman's rights in this community. His views were 
entirely new and considered rather Eutopian, then, 
but now it seems that he was only an advanced 
thinker. A paper for which he subscribed, which 




DK. LINDLEY. 



-81- 



was an exponent of these views, was called the 
"Banner of Peace." If he could have lived to these 
days his highest anticipations would have been al- 
most realized. That women would help to reform 
the world in temperance and politics was a theme 
on which he often discoursed. The lives of these 
good people were examples that could not fail to 
influence all who knew them. Peace to their ashes, 
and a blessed reward for them above! 



Besides the men who were the pillars of the 
church there were "honorable women not a few,' 1 
who were as necessary and useful to the superstruc- 
ture as the pillars themselves. They were consist- 
ent Christian women, who gave all their influence 
on the side of religion. The diversions they sought 
were pure and simple. Reading societies and sewing 
societies where like one family, they were all inter- 
ested in the same object, jealousies were unknown. 
There were no theatres here in those days and if 
there had been, no church member would have at- 
tended them. There was no beer drinking or card 
playing mothers, and few temptations to anything 
but a moral life. 

MRS. WARNER. 

The first Mrs. Warner was the wife of Alanson 
Warner, a sister-in-law of "Father Chute, 1 ' and one 



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of the first church members when it was organized. 
She was an influential woman and active in good 
works. The second Mrs. Warner, afterward Mrs. 
Chas R. Hopkins, was an energetic worker in every- 
thing relating to the welfare of the church, and at 
her death she left a handsome bequest to the Wal- 
nut Street Church. 

Mr. Alanson Warner, though one of the trustees 
of the church, was never a member. He was a man 
of sterling worth and honesty, interested in every 
good cause. He was prosperous in business and 
gave freely of his means to benevolent objects. It 
was at his house the first meeting was held to con- 
sider the building of the church. For many years 
he kept the only hotel in the place, the "Mansion 
House," which stood where the Peoples' Opera 
House stood. 



MKS. J. H. MAGHEE 

Was a pattern of loveliness of character, delicate 
and refined; her conscientious and pure life and her 
deeds of charity made her beloved and honored by 
everyone. She passed to her reward years since and 
her parting words to her dear child were "Be kind 
to the poor.' 1 Her sister, Miss Parker, who took 
the place of mother to the bereaved child, carried 
out her sisters wishes in all respects, being an ex- 



-83- 



cellent Christian woman. The latter is still living 
in New York and retains pleasant memories of her 
life in Evansville and her many friends, few of 
whom still survive. 



MKS. ROBERT BARNES. 

Mrs. Barnes was another lovely woman whose 
memory is precious. She was one whom any per- 
son with aspirations for a higher and better life 
might wish to imitate. Gentle, kind and conscien- 
tious she performed all the duties of a Christian 
woman with zeal and pleasure. She had many trials 
which were borne with patience. An irreligious 
husband was a great grief to her, but her perfect 
life and prayers for him were no doubt the means 
after her death of his conversion, which it was 
truly believed, took place. He manifested a strong 
desire to lead a new life and joined a church, not 
the one to which his wife had belonged. But his 
ardor was dampened by the persistent efforts of 
his brethren to bring him forward as a prominent 
member, insisting upon his praying in public and 
taking an active and conspicuous part in the 
church, while the man himself had more sense and 
modesty than to accede to their wishes. He was a 
wealthy man and they wished him to be a bright 
and shining light in the world. 



-84- 



Another cause of his "fall from grace 11 was 
the good bretheren wished to administer upon 
his estate before he was done with it himself. 
In other words there was no end to the demands 
upon him for money, to which he responded 
in a reasonable degree, but not at all satisfactory to 
the applicant, and to prevent any further expecta- 
tions he became a Spiritualist. The doctrines and 
belief of that sect suited him better. He thought 
the more spiritual people became the less money 
would be required from him. He made his will 
leaving his property to the Spiritualists, but at his 
death his will could not be found and his rightful 
heirs came into possession of all he had owned. 



MRS. SARAH L. FLAGLER. 

Mrs. Sarah Leland Flagler was one of the earliest 
members of the Walnut Street Church. She was 
born in Pleasant Valley, N. Y., in 1794, and died in 
Glen Cove, N. Y., in 1882. 

Mrs. Flagler was the daughter of Rev. John 
Clark, who was for more than thirty years pastor 
of Pleasant Valley. She was a genial Christian 
woman; life had no dark side to her, whatever of 
sorrow or care came upon her she rallied from it 
and became cheerfully resigned to her lot. In her 
extreme old age she preserved her youthful feelings ". 



-85- 

She enjoyed making everyone happy, particularly 
the children. She was a lover of the beautiful in 
nature and art, and possessed the art of making 
beautiful things with the painters' pencil, which 
she exercised until a short time before her death. 
Many homes this day have samples of her skill and 
taste — beaatiful vases and articles of fancy work 
with which she decorated the dwellings of her 
friends. She was untiring in her labors for the 
church, and many dollars were realized from the 
sale of her fancy articles at the fairs held for the 
benefit of the church. After leaving Evansville 
she was always busy aiding poor and struggling 
churches by contributing her work which was sold 
to their advantage. Mrs. Flagler was always met 
with friendly greeting wherever she went. For 
many years, with rare kindliness of heart, she min- 
istered to others with true Christian sympathy, re- 
joicing with the happy and sorrowing with the sad. 
Her pastor wrote of her after her death: u Her 
memory will long be cherished here and elsewhere. 
To the last her childlike faith in her Savior never 
wavered and she was ready to depart and be with 
Him." 



CHAPTER XI. 



REV. J. P. E. KTJMLER. 

Rev. J. P. E. Kumler, in his own words, gives the 
following account: 

"I received a call to the pastorate of the Walnut 
Street Church, of Evansville, Ind., in May, 1868. 
The call was accepted and the work entered upon 
about the first of July following. The Rev. Wm. 
H. McCarer had been pastor for nearly a score of 
years; he had led the church from weakness to 
strength, and built a large and elegant church edi- 
fice. He was greatly and justly loved by his many 
old friends, who were pained at his retirement, and 
though he continued to reside among the people he 
had served so long and faithfully, he was not, as is 
often the case, an obstruction to the work of his 
successor, but a decided help and a loving friend, 
as was also his devoted and accomplished wife. 
Fortunate indeed is the pastor who finds such par- 
ishoners as we found in Brother McCarer and his 



-87- 



beloved companion. The elders fitly represented 
the church. The names of John Shanklin, Samuel 
Orr and Dr. Tyrell were held in reverence. They 
unselfishly sought the purity, peace and prosperity 
of the church. Two of these were well advanced in 
years, and the church was growing in numbers so 
that they requested an addition to their number. 
Gen. John W. Foster, Prof. A. M. Gow and Daniel 
Mark were chosen and proved themselves efficient 
overseers of the flock. All were in harmony and 
seconded every effort of the pastor. The hand of 
the Lord was with us, and many were added to the 
church. Special mention should be made of the 
godly women u not a few, 1 ' who at this distance of 
twenty years come vividly before me, 1 can hardly 
refrain from beginning the catalogue of their 
names, but I would not know where to stop. They 
were a host in themselves; to their prayers and un- 
tiring successful work the prosperity of the church 
was largely due. As the mind to work became 
more manifest there was a necessity felt for a more 
thorough organization for church work, and with 
that prince of organizers, Gen. J. W. Foster, we ef- 
fected the most complete division of labor, that 
assigned to every man his own work, I have ever 
seen put in operation. Nearly every member of the 
church was placed on some committee; there was no 



-88- 



branch of church work overlooked. The congrega- 
tion, the prayer meetings, the young peoples' meet- 
ings, the Sunday school, Cottage prayer meetings, 
Temperance socials, canvassing and religious litera- 
ture. The latter committee, I remember, saw that 
every family in the church had one of our church 
papers. 

"As there was no Y. M. C. Association in the city 
we had also committees to visit the jail, station 
house, infirmary, and to distribute invitations to at- 
tend church at the different hotels. The chairman 
of each committee reported regularly to the session 
what the committee had done. Then followed this 
increased activity an increased ingathering of souls 
and a manifest growth of grace in all the workers. 
The contributions to the different Boards of the 
church increased. The church also began to take 
a more active part in the mission work of the Pres- 
bytery. The church during my pastorate was ex- 
cedingly fortunate in her Treasurer, the Hon. Wm. 
Baker, nothing was allowed to go at loose ends — 
business was business. The annual reports were 
exhaustive and models of accuracy and a great 
stimulus to greater liberality. The payments of sal- 
ary were as prompt as the sun. It was my sad duty 
to follow him to the grave, and my privilege to 
voice a general sentiment of all who knew him, to 



-89- 



declare that in his departure the community and 
the church lost one of its most upright and valua- 
ble members. I cannot refrain from mentioning a 
few others whose names have starred. Mr.Shanklin 
and Mr. Orr, were prominent pillars in the church. 
They were men of God and of might, upon whom 
the church and society is built. They were identi- 
fied with the foundation and superstructure of the 
Walnut Street Presbyterian Church. Nor can I 
omit the name of my warm-hearted and enthusias- 
tic friend Mr. Daniel Mark, and still another, Prof. 
A. M. Gow, whose great experience as an educator 
enabled him to introduce many improvements in 
our Sabbath school methods; and still there comes 
back to memory both men and women whose faces 
we shall see no more in time. "Part of the host 
have crossed the flood, part are crossing now. 1 ' 
There was no discord during that three years pas- 
torate. No wonder there was a breaking of heart- 
strings when the relation was sundered. Its precious 
memories are counted among the richest legacies of 
my life." 

J. P. E. KUMLER. 



Rev. J. P. E. Kumler, while in the capacity of 
pastor, was a great favorite with his church and 
congregation, and his resignation was very reluc- 



-90- 



tantly accepted. His parting with his friends was 
painful at least, and at the last moment he may 
have wished with them that he had not listened to 
the "call" which they did not wish him to hear. 
Then why did he leave? Was it the "call," or was 
it that like a brave general he changed his position 
in order to be given a better advantage of the enemy, 
thinking that with the three years of thorough train- 
ing he had given the soldiers of the cross in E vansville 
that they could "hold the fort" and wage success- 
ful warfare against sin without his aid. His plans 
of systematic church work have continued and the 
impression left upon his people is that he was an 
excellent pastor. He was an eloquent and practi- 
cal preacher, and well deserved the kind regard and 
esteem in which he is held to this day. 

To Mr. Kumler the First Avenue Church is 
largely indebted. Through his influence it was first 
started as a Mission, and with the help of the 
Grace Presbyterian Church, a flourishing society 
was organized and a church was built, of which 
Rev. Wm. H. McCarer became pastor and was very 
active in the prouiotion of its interests and welfare 
until the time of his death. 



MRS. KUMLER 

Was a most energetic church worker and is not 
forgotten. Her active interest in all good works 




KEY. SAMUEL CARLISLE. 



-91- 



as well as Her example, were a great benefit to the 
church. No duty was neglected that she under- 
took to perform, and she was one of the women 
who could well be depended upon for a leader in 
all that pertained to reform, while her home duties 
were never neglected. She was a good wife and 
mother and is kindly remembered by her many 
friends. Mr. Kumler went from Evansville to Cin- 
cinnati, where he remained for some time. His 
place of residence at present is Pittsburg, Penn. 



REV. SAMUEL CARLISLE. 

After the Rev. Mr. Kumler left, Rev. Samuel Car- 
lisle filled his place. It has been impossible to hear 
from him, and as nothing is known of his history 
it can only be said that he was quite a young man 
and gave satisfaction as a preacher. 

His portrait has been kindly offered by one of 
his friends for insertion in this volume. 





CHAPTER XII. 



REV. CHARLES HENRY FOOTE, D. D. 

Rev. Mr. Foote was born in Lenox, Mass., the 
17th of June, 1825. His parents removed to Mon- 
roe county, N. Y. when he was 10 years of age. He 
prepared for college in Rochester, N. Y., and grad- 
uated at Williamstown, Mass. He began the study 
of law, but at the end of two years decided that it 
was his duty to enter the ministry. He then went 
to Princeton Theological Seminary, and before he 
finished his studies there, received a call from the 
Second Church in New Brunswick, N. J., which he 
accepted immediately after he graduated in 1854. 
Mr. Foote was married to Miss Alma T. Foote, of 
Madison, N. Y., in June of the same year and re- 
mained with the New Brunswick church four years. 
Although the relation of church and pastor were 
most harmonious, he took the advice of his physi- 
cian and removed west for the benefit of the health 
of his wife. He settled first in Jersey ville, 111. ^ 




REV. CHARLES HENRY FOOTE. 



REV. J. P. E. KUMLEK. 



-93- 



where he lived for ten years, which included the 
time of the civil war. Being on the "Border land," 
it was only by his prudence, wisdom and personal 
popularity that his large church was held together. 
Afterward, when he was in charge of the North 
Church in St. Louis, Mo., he received his call from 
the Walnut Street Church in Evansville, to which 
he came in 1876. While pastor of the North Church 
in St. Louis he received the title of U D. D." from 
Blackburn University, 111. After preaching and 
faithfully discharging all his pastoral duties in the 
Walnut Street Church for three years he accepted 
a call from the First Presbyterian Church in Ionia, 
Michigan, from which church militant he was re- 
moved to the church triumphant, June 27th, 1880. 
The tablet erected to his memory in this church 
will give a summary of his character and the es- 
teem in which he lived and died. His work as a 
pastor was eminently successful in every sense of 
the word. He never had a communion season with- 
out additions to the church. He always left a 
church united and harmonious, and on leaving he 
always received the most cordial expressions of re- 
gret from the majority of the people. He was es- 
pecially happy in his work and intercourse with 
young people and his genial and frank ways always 



-94- 



won the children. Mr. Foote was a cousin of Rev. 
Henry Beecher, whose mother's name was Foote. 

The above account was .written by an intimate 
friend of Dr. Foote, who says: u 0f his work in 
Evansville, the growth and prosperity of the church 
for the three years he was there, r I need not tell you." 
Of course the church records will give a full ac- 
count of the additions and official work. The fol- 
lowing is a f ac simile of the inscription of the tab- 
let erected to his memory in the church in Ionia, 
Michigan, when he was called away from his last 
pastorate duties: 



"ffn flDemoriam. 



CHARLES H. FOOTE, D. D. 

Born June 17th, 1825. 
Ordained May 23d, 1354. 
Died June 27th, 1880. 

An Able and Faithful Minister of Christ. The 
Beloved Pastor of this Church 
from 1879 to 1880. 

Intellectual, Vigorous and Original. 
Emotionally Generous and Genial. 
Spiritually Earnest and Energetic. 

"Bemember the Word that I said unto you, 
being yet present with you." 



-95- 



REV. ALEXANDER STERRITT. 

Rev Alexander Sterritt supplied the pulpit for a 
short time, when there was no regular pastor. He 
was an acceptable pastor of Grace Church for many 
years. He was a very original preacher, giving his 
own views on different subjects and his own inter- 
pretations of passages of scripture, which was an 
inovation seldom ventured npon at that time, and 
though, to most minds, entirely orthodox, might 
in this day when such men as Dr. Briggs are ar- 
raigned, be thought to savor of heresy. He was a 
genial, jovial man and a clever preacher, and was 
well thought of by all who knew him. He is now 
numbered among those who have crossed over "to 
the other side." 



CHAPTER XIII. 



ME. JOHX SHAXKLIK". 

Mr. Shanklin became an Elder of the church in 
1855. He was one of the oldest residents in Evans- 
yille. He was born near Derry. in the County 
Donegal, in Ireland. His father, John Shanklin, 
Sr., an Irish patriot, lost his life in the rebellion of 
1798, fighting for his beloved country. In his 
eighteenth year Mr. Shanklin emigrated to America, 
landing in New York after a voyage of six weeks 
in a sailing vessel. He spent three years in New 
York, afterward removing to Frankfort, Ky., from 
which place he went to Shelbyville in the same 
state, where he engaged in teaching several years. 
Subsequently he made his home in Louisville, where 
he made life-long acquaintances and friends. In 
1823 he came to Evansville and engaged in busi- 
ness in which he continued, under different firm 
names, the last being Shanklin & Reilly, till about 




JOHN SHANKLIN. 



-97- 



four years before his death. After his death a city 

paper spoke of him as follows: 

"Mr.Shanklin began life inEvansville when it was 
a mere village. He saw it grow into a city with wide 
spreading commerce and wealth. He witnessed in 
his long life the creating of the railroad and the tele- 
graph, scarcely dreamed of when he first came to the 
place and with these creations the marvelous growth 
and development of our country m commerce and in- 
tellectual activity. With all this his mind sympa- 
thized and kept pace. Though the snows of eighty- 
two winters had fallen about him, his spirits were 
buoyant and hopeful, making his presence and com- 
pany always genial and agreeable to the old and 
young alike. Proverbialy liberal and kindhearted 
his hand was ever ready to help forward those who 
were contending with adverse circumstances. His 
heart was always open to the cry of the poor and 
distressed and with his means he was ever ready to 
render them substantial aid. John Shanklin was 
no ordinary man, in his mature manhood his 
physical powers of endurance were extraordinary. 
The circumstances in which he and many others in 
this new country were placed called forth and de- 
veloped the highest skill and energy. A trip to New 
York was made by river, stage and on horseback, 
and weeks and months were spent in these weary 
journeys. Also the southern trip to New Orleans 
was equally tedious, going down oil a flat boat and 
returning by steamboat. Persons in business were 
obliged to make these long journeys. During Mr. 
Shanklin's active business life he was largely en- 
gaged in shipping produce to New Orleans. He was 
always foremost in business, possessing the confi- 
dence of all who were associated with him in the 
affairs of life, and he never betrayed their trust. In 



-98- 



the cliurcli his labors were supplemented by bis de- 
voted wife, and both are held in grateful remem- 
brance. He was an Elder of the church for over 
twenty years, and his life linking the past century 
with the present, closed full of good deeds and lov- 
ing memories. Of his excellence as a citizen, his 
tenderness as a husband, his kindness as a father 
and his uprightness as a man, let the hearts of his 
children and friends who knew him best testify." 



MKS. PHILUKA SHANKLIN. 

Mrs. Shanklin was removed by death from a 
sphere of usefulness three years previous to the 
demise of her husband. She was a native of 
Vermont, and as Miss Philura French, came to 
Evansville in 1831 with her sister, Mrs. Calvin But- 
ler, and engaged in teaching for three years before 
her marriage. The school house in which she be- 
gan her labors was a primitive log cabin on the 
Princeton road near the old farm of Luke Wood. 
She afterward taught in Washington, Ind. She was 
actively engaged in promoting everything calcu- 
lated to advance the prosperity of the church of 
which her brother-in-law was pastor in Evansville, 
and in its connection began her work in the Sab- 
bath school. To her belongs the honor of organ- 
izing the first Sabbath school, which was then re- 
garded as an innovation upon the established cusr 
toms, which did not fully bear upon the higher 



MRS. JOHN SHANKLIN. 



-99- 



sanctification of tlie Sabbath. But such was her 
power of fascinating the youth that it was not long 
till through them she triumphed over the prejudices 
of the parents. Her interest in the young people 
of her day and her influence upon them was in 
many instances very remarkable. Seemingly she 
had never forgotten her own youthful tastes and 
she entered into and sympathized in all the enjoy- 
ments of her young friends with evident delight 
and satisfaction. Her love for children was one of 
the well remembered traits in her character. Her 
home was always a pleasant rendezvous for all 
the young people in the neighborhood. To illus- 
trate her desire to give pleasure to the children a 
little incident is given by one of her friends, who 
said: u Finding her one day superintending the ar- 
rangement of the shrubs and flowers in her front 
yard, I called her attention to the fact that the 
gardener was setting the roses so near the fence 
that every passer-by might pluck them. She said 
"That is just what I want. If any little child that 
has no flowers at home comes along, I want him to 
reach right through the fence and take them.' Her 
religion was practical as well as spiritual. She com- 
forted and assisted those in distress and encouraged 
all who needed strength to bear the burdens of life. 
Her religion spiritually, carried her beyond the 



-100- 



cloudy visions of time, where love and beauty reign 
supreme. She dwelt in the presence of the gran- 
deur of which St. Paul speaks as "the powers of 
the world to come," and her aspirations were al- 
ways for a better and higher life. She was in sym- 
pathy and goodfellowship with all Christians of 
whatever denomination. By her death, not only 
her particular friends were bereaved, but the 
church to which she belonged and the community 
for whose good she exercised her best thoughts and 
influences. 

Much more could be said of this good woman, 
but the hand that would indite these lines is influ- 
enced too deeply by a sister's love to be trusted to 
write more. The love and sympathy of a last sur- 
viving sister which made life pleasant and desirable 
has passed away, and in their place come memories 
from the shadowy past that no lapse of time is suf- 
ficient to dim. At this late day the heart aches at 
the desolation that the removal of the beloved 
presence has wrought and veils itself in its sorrow. 



REV. J. Q. ADAMS. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



REV. J. Q. ADAMS. 

Rev. J. Q. Adams was a native of the town of 
Ogden, a few miles west of Rochester, N. Y. His 
parents were New England people and his father 
was a farmer. He was early initiated into the hard 
work of a farmer's boy, and his school days were 
soon limited to the f our months of the winter term 
of a district school. A desire to secure an educa- 
tion possessed him, and he cannot remember the 
time when he did not expect to become a minister. 
Under great difficulties he prepared for college, 
much of the work being done at home under the 
guidance of an older sister. From September, 1868 
to May, 1869, he was a student in the academy 
connected with the Normal School at Brockport, 
N. Y. Then, owing to the sudden death of his 
father, he left school and managed the farm until 
it was sold in the spring of 1871. In the meantime, 



-102- 

by diligent study, he had entered the University of 
Rochester in the class of '74. Here he pursued his 
studies and was graduated with that class, and from 
the Theological Seminary at Auburn in 1877. Most 
of these years he was supporting himself by office 
work, teaching and preaching. 

Soon after being graduated he was married to Miss 
Clara Southgate, of Rochester, and became stated 
supply of the Presbyterian Church of Mexico, N. 
Y. There had been much trouble in the church, 
and his work was to bring together the two par- 
ties and consolidate the church for work. Though 
holding a call to the pastorate, he was not installed, 
nor was he ordained until June, 1878. Then the 
Presbytery of Syracuse ordained him an evangelist. 
He had previously been licensed in 1876 by the 
Presbytery of Rochester. 

In November, 1878, he accepted the invitation to 
become a stated supply to the Walnut Street Pres- 
byterian Church, of Evansville, and began his work 
December 1st. At the end of the year he received 
and accepted a call to the pastorate and was in- 
stalled by the Presbytery of Vincennes, Here he 
remained until October, 1881. It was a pastorate 
much enjoyed by him, and full of work. A large 
number had been received into the church under 
Dr. Foote, his predecessor, and his work was largely 



-103- 



in looking after and training the new converts. 
The church was brought into greater unity, and 
better organization for work. Owing to the failure 
of his health he was obliged to resign, and accepted 
a call to become the pastor of the Presbyterian 
Church of Boulder, Colorado. 

Here new work in laying foundations was thrust 
upon him. There was a large growth in every de- 
partment of the church. It became self-supporting 
and stepped to the front as one of the most vigor- 
ous churches of that region. The demands of the 
general work were also numerous. 

In March, 1884, he resigned this pastorate to ac- 
cept a call to the Westminster Presbyterian Church 
of San Francisco, where he is still pastor. Work 
in this city is exceptionally difficult, and the church 
to which he came was in debt, divided, sadly de- 
moralized, and few in numbers. There has been 
growth in many ways. It is out of debt, united, 
thoroughly organized, liberal and active in every 
good work. It has one of the best working forces 
of young people to be found anywhere. It has the 
First Company of the Boys' Brigade in the U. S. A., 
which, in its more than two year's work, has done 
much for the boys, and is a rapidly growing or- 
ganization. 



-104- 



Any notice of his work would be incomplete 
without some reference to her, who in every good 
work, has been a help-meet, indeed. Elder Samuel 
Orr called her "a model pastor's wife, 1 ' and as the 
years have passed since then, she has not lost this 
reputation. To her abundant labors Mr. Adams 
owes much. 



All that has been said of Mrs. Adams, meets 
with a hearty response from everyone who was 
blessed with her acquaintance. While her husband 
was pastor in Evansville she won all hearts, her 
labors of love and mercy were ''abundant," and she 
has never been weary of well-doing. From her far 
off home in California, word comes back that the 
good little woman is more active than ever and her 
good influence among all classes and especially 
among the young people, is being felt and highly 
appreciated. 

That Mr. Adams does "not remember when he did 
not expect to be a minister 1 ' must have had a pow- 
erful influence in forming his character. His life 
and mind must have developed with that gracious 
thought, which was evident from his purely spirit- 
ual sermons. Mr. Adams was very highly respected, 
and his ill health, which obliged him to leave, was 




REV. SEWAED M. DODGE. 



-105- 



seriously regretted. Excellent reports of the good 
lie is able to accomplish among the rising genera- 
tion come to us, and that his health has improved 
in the mild climate of California, is very gratifying 
to his many friends. 



EEV. SEWARD M. DODGE. 

Christmas morning of the year 1881, the Rev. 
Seward M. Dodge preached his first sermon in the 
pulpit of Walnut Street Church. First, as stated 
supply, and afterward as pastor-elect, he served the 
church until the last of September, 1883, when he 
departed for California and became pastor of the 
Santa Rosa Presbyterian Church. 

On the 22d of January, a month after Rev. Mr. 
Dodge's arrival in Walnut Street Church, a jubilee 
service was held on the fiftieth anniversary of the 
building of the first church edifice erected ten years 
after the organization of the church, and the dabt 
$3,000, which long hindered the work of the church, 
was cancelled. 

Only a few days later, Elder Samuel Orr, long the 
main pillar of the church and confidential adviser 
of every pastor, was laid to rest. In the October 
following, his beloved wife, of sainted memory, 
joined him. The next spring the old church manse 



-106- 



;gave place to a beautiful brick structure, erected to 
their memory by Mr. James Orr and Mrs. Martha 
Bayard. 

During Mr. Dodge's pastorate, of less than two 
years, thirty-five members were added to the church 
— nineteen on confession of faith and sixteen by 
letter. Regular meetings were established among 
the young people, with whom Mr Dodge was always 
in the fullest sympathy, and many received the 
spiritual blessing of introduction to Christian work. 

Though the time was short in which Mr. Dodge 
remained with the church, his work was successful, 
and he was appreciated as an honest and faithful 
worker in the vineyard of the Lord. His talents 
were not buried, and in a quiet, unpretentious way 
he went about his Master's work, and when the day 
of reckoning comes he will receive the plaudit: 
'Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into 
the joy of thy Lord." 




MR. SAMUEL OEE. 



CHAPTER XV. 



ME. SAMUEL OEE. 

In a note from the Rev. Seward M. Dodge, he 
says, "Much of sorrow as well as joy was crowded 
into the few short months I spent in Evansville." 
No sadder event ever occurred in the church than 
the death of one of its oldest and best beloved Elders, 
Mr. Samuel Orr, which took place during the time 
when Mr. Dodge was pastor. The name of this 
good man brings pleasant memories to every one 
who knew him. He had all the qualities which make 
a man respected and honored in every w T alk of life 
— as a business man, a philanthropist, a christian 
and a personal friend. 

Mr. Samuel Orr emigrated from Ireland in 1833, 
and after two years spent in Pittsburg, he came to 
Evansville, where he engaged in business and after- 
wards became one of the largest dealers in iron in 
the West. He was an honest man, and was emi- 



-108- 



nently successful in the accumulation of wealth, 
which seemed a well merited reward for his perse- 
vering energy and his upright dealings with all men. 
Benevolence was one of his most prominent char- 
acteristics; the poor and needy were never refused 
aid when an appeal was made to his kind heart, and 
among this class the sincerest grief was felt when 
he was called away. The "Evansville Courier 1 ' said 
of him: 

u He was personally known to a larger number of 
men, women and children,perhaps,than any man who 
has ever lived in this community, and their knowl- 
edge of him was not merely that of an acquaint- 
ance, but of deep personal attachment." 

It can be truly said of Samuel Orr that his kind- 
ness was universal; that his bounty was freely given 
whenever necessity or sorrow laid claim to it. The 
last prominent scene in which he was an actor oc- 
curred about two weeks before his death, the occa- 
sion being the semi-centennial anniversary of the 
Walnut Street Church. After an eloquent discourse 
by the Rev. Seward Dodge, who had just entered 
upon his duty as pastor, it was proposed to clear the 
church debt by subscription. With that liberality 
which has always characterized his actions in every 
worthy cause, and that has particularly lent em- 
phasis and sincerity to his church loyalty, Samuel 
Orr subscribed about one-fourth of the amount 
necessary, in this way giving such stimulus to the 
movement that in a few minutes the required amount 
was raised. No one who was present will ever for- 
get his cheering words on that occasion, now doubly 
memorable for the sad sequel of the great sorrow 




MRS. SAMUEL ORR. 



-109- 



that followed. He appeared in his usual health and 
his cheerful nature was never seen to greater advan- 
tage. "This day's work, 1 ' he said, "lifts a great 
burden from my heart; I have always wished that 
this debt might be paid during my life. 

Alas! that the end should have come so soon after 
this happy fruition of his hope. He goes down, not 
over weighted with years it is true, but having ful- 
filled a career that was full of noble deeds that will 
be recalled with fragrant memories. No reproaches 
will follow him into the mysterious future which 
all men must sometime explore, and he leaves be- 
hind him a name that will alwavs be reverenced as 
an example to be emulated and beloved. 11 



MRS. SAMUEL ORE. 

The honored and beloved wife of Mr. Orr deserves 
a place in this volume. She was married to Samuel 
Orr before leaving Ireland. Reared with sterling 
principles, in the atmosphere of the old Scotch 
Presbyterianism, she was a firm defender of the 
faith, and her conscientious and useful life was a 
grand monument to the teachings of her early days 
and her memory is as fresh in the hearts of those 
who knew and loved her as the green sod from 
which she emigrated. 



-110- 



A few lines from the editor of the Evansville 
Tribune, who knew her from his childhood, shows 
the place she held in the affections of her friends 

He says: "To the writer she was very dear, the 
kind words and friendly advice she often gave him 
when a mere child, the interest she has always shown 
in him, after he arrived at man's estate, are cher- 
ished never to be forgotten. She was truly a noble 
woman and her life was a long succession of good 
deeds — a kind charitable Christian woman, num- 
bering her friends as well among those in the hum- 
ble walks of life as among those upon whom for- 
tune had smiled. Her church was next to her home, 
the dearest spot on earth to her, and as long as her 
strength would permit she was never absent from 
her pew. She has gone to her Maker, gone to the 
spot at His foot stool that awaited her coming.' 1 

Of Mr. and Mrs. Orr, it can truly be said, the 
mantle of these worthy people has fallen on their 
only son and daughter, Mr. James Orr and Mrs. 
Martha Bayard, who are well fitted to fill out lives- 
that will honor their venerable parents. They have 
built a beautiful Parsonage on Walnut Street on the 
lot adjoining the church, sacred to the memory of 
their father and mother. 



MRS. JAKE FARRELL. 

Mrs. Farrell, a sister of Mrs. Orr, is the oldest 
member of the church, and one of the precious links 
that connect the past with the present. She re- 



MRS. JANE FARREL. 



-Ill- 



members much of Evansville in early times and 
likes to recall the scenes and events of long ago. 

Mrs. Farrell came to America from Ireland, as Mrs. 
McDonald, more than forty years ago and became ac- 
quainted with pioneer life,the first few years having 
been spent in the country near Evansville. There 
were many privations to be endured in the new set- 
tlements at that time, and often misfortunes. After 
being comfortably settled in a home, her house, 
with all its contents was consumed by fire; not long 
after, having again secured a pleasant home, she was 
bereaved of her husband, who in attempting to 
cross a stream which he was usually able to ford, 
a late rain having swollen it, he rode into the stream 
and was drowned. Her trials were all borne as only 
a brave woman can bear trouble. She removed to 
town, and after several years she was married to Mr. 
John Farrell, since deceased. She has always been 
a staunch Presbyterian, and her interest in the 
church at her advanced age, is unabated. When 
the weather is not unpleasant, Sabbath morning 
finds her in her pew listening to the words of truth 
and righteousness. 

Mrs. Farrell has never forgotten her home across 
the sea, and she keeps herself well informed in re- 
gard to its present history as well as that of its 
earliest periods. Her fondness for, and knowledge 



-112- 



of history is quite remarkable; she remembers more 
about the crowned heads of Great Britain and their 
descendants than almost anyone, and is often referred 
to by her friends for information in matters of this 
kind. She is fond of reading and society, and the 
down-hill of life is made pleasant for her by the 
host of loving friends who enjoy her society, and 
she still retains an interest in them and the affairs 
of life, which makes her time pass pleasantly and 
happily away. 

u Cheerf ul as the day declines, 
Cares depart with setting sun, 

Peace and trust now fill the mind 
Till life's earthly sands are run. 1 ' 




CHAPTER XVI. 



HON. JOHN W. FOSTER. 

Among those who have in years past removed 
from Evansville and have been very much missed in 
the church and society, are the Hon. John W. Fos- 
ter and his excellent wife. During the civil war, 
as Colonel of a regiment and commander of a cav- 
alry brigade in Burnside's army, John W. Foster was 
a leader m the service of his country and won the 
honors which were afterwards conferred upon him. 
Seldom has any man so secured the confidence of the 
head of the nation as to receive three so important 
appointments as were given him. He was eleven years 
Foreign Minister of the United States, first to Mex- 
ico, afterwards to Russia, and lastly to Spain. From 
1866 to 1873 Col. Foster was editor of a daily paper 
in Evansville. He lived in Cincinnati perhaps two 
years after the war, and was a faithful ruling Elder 



-114- 



in the Lane Seminary Church, Walnut Hills, and also 
in the Walnut Street Church, Evansville, and now 
in the New York Avenue Church, Washington,D.C. 

To the memory of their children who died in 
Evansville, Col. and Mrs. Foster have erected a 
beautiful little church, at the corner of Elsas 
Avenue and Delaware street, where a mission 
school had been established by Rev. Mr. Kumler, 
formerly of Walnut Street Church. There has been 
no regularly organized church there as yet, minis- 
ters of other churches supplying the pulpit every 
Sabbath. 

Evansville has a right to congratulate herself on 
being able to send out into the world men who be- 
come not only nationally distinguished, but those 
who are valuable members of the community where 
they reside and whose influence is only for good. 

MBS. ELIZA J. M'FERSOK. 

Mrs. McFerson is the mother of Mrs. John W. 
Foster, and also one of the early members of the 
church. Hearing her at one time relate some of her 
early history, the writer was led to think that the 
strong minded women of this day possibly believe 
that they are something new in the world, and that 
they are quite in advance of all their predecessors; 



-115- 



perhaps they are, in making plans of what women 
ought to do, but the thought arose, has any one of 
them done more that is really heroic than Mrs. Mc- 
Ferson. The ambition and perseverance of a young 
woman of that early time of which she writes below, 
was remarkable. One who could accomplish so much 
in the way of educating herself when so few facilities 
were enjoyed, is an example worthy of emulation. 
It is to be hoped that the account solicited for this 
book will encourage the young people, whatever 
their circumstances may be, to qualify themselves 
for any emergency that may overtake them, by ob- 
taining a thorough education, and that the faint- 
hearted who would give up in time of trouble to 
despondency, will take courage from this ex- 
ample and as bravely defy misfortune as the subject 
of this sketch has done. 

Carlyle says: a The past is holier, the farther 
we go from it." And a person can imagine the 
emotion experienced by one who after passing the 
three score and ten years allotted to her, sits down 
and recalls the scenes of a long and eventful life. 
Mrs. McFerson is a strong character, and her influ- 
ence is felt wherever she is known. Having been 
the wife of a minister, she feels a deep interest in 
the church, and her opinions are of value in all 



-116- 

matters pertaining to it. She is now able to rest 
from the arduous duties of life, and passes her time 
pleasantly with her daughter in Washington, and 
her son, Mr. Theodore McFerson, in Evansville, 
calling the latter place her home. 

A good idea can be gathered from the following 
sketch, by men of large families, who are not able to 
educate all their children. Let them try the plan of 
educating one,and let that one teach the rest. In New 
England, fifty years ago, it was painful to see the 
effort made to educate one child for a profession 
while the others were neglected and alloAved to look 
up to the educated one as a superior. Mr. Ezra Reed, 
the father of Mrs. McFerson, was a New Englander, 
but his coming west perhaps developed this new 
idea which proved a success. 

Mrs. McFerson says: kt I was born January 1st, 
1818, near Urbana, Ohio. My father was from Mass- 
achusetts, my mother from Maine. My father built 
the first brick house in the region of country where 
he settled; and was the wonder of all the inhabi- 
tants, inasmuch as he sent all of his boys to col- 
lege, six of whom were older than myself. The 
neighbors spoke of my brothers as u college head." 
A room was set apart in my father's house for study, 
in which we gathered. As one after another of the 
sons finished his college course, and was studying 
his profession, the first year in private, he would 
take charge of the study room, and prepare the next 
younger to enter the regular college class. Here I 



MRS. E. J. McFERSON. 



-117- 



sat as a little girl learning my lesson. I was taught 
to read by my grandmother, on my father's side, be- 
fore I was four years old. My mother died before I 
was five years old. 

"When 1 was eight years of age my oldest brother 
took me with him to Athens, he having graduated 
and become a tutor in the Ohio University. He im- 
mediately put me to studying Latin grammar, hear- 
ing me recite at noon and in the evening: he drilled 
me month after month on the declension of the 
nouns, pronouns, adjectives and conjugation of verbs 
so that they remain with me until this day; the les- 
sons were learned on Saturday as on other days, and 
on every Sabbath afternoon a hymn or Psalm or 
both. 

"About the time I had mastered the Latin grammar 
my brother, hearing that a cultivated French family 
had come over and settled a few miles from Athens, 
concluded to place me in their charge to learn that 
language. Only one member of the family spoke 
English; they taught me to ask for everything in 
French, and paid no attention if I spoke in English. 
I suffered untold agonies in the woods with these 
strangers, speaking only in a foreign tongue. I re- 
mained here several months. 

"Occasionally, when not convenient for my broth- 
ers to instruct me, I went to school; the study and 
discipline here was mere play compared with what 
they required of me. 

"At the age of fourteen, I was sent to the Mari- 
etta Female Seminar} 7 , conducted by some East- 
ern ladies, remaining during two school years; here 
I studied arithmetic, history, botany and other 
branches taught in the best female schools of that 
day. I returned to Athens in the latter part of my 
fifteenth year, making my home with my oldest 



- 118- 



brother, who was then married and was Professor 
of Latin and Greek in the University. The brother 
next older than myself was then a student in the 
college, and with him I commenced the study of 
geometry (old Euclid). After I had mastered the 
first book containing forty-nine propositions, my 
brother, Prof. Read, said he was going to ask the 
Professor of Mathematics to review me. He was a 
severe man, a graduate of West Point, who said that 
women had not sense enough to master higher 
mathematics, so I trembled, but did not dare to ob- 
ject. I stood at the black-board two or three hours, 
reciting every proposition in the first book. The 
Professor praised me to his college classes, saying I 
had done more than they could do, as he had not re- 
quired so much of them. He afterwards said that 
he would like to have me study algebra with him, 
as I would need it as I went on in geometry; this I 
did^ two of my friends joining me. During these 
years I read Latin, (Cicero, Virgil, etc.) with my 
brother. Prof. Read, French with a brother fond of 
the modern languages, and studied mathematics 
with another, devoted to that branch of study. I 
found a letter a few weeks since, written by the 
last named, fifty-six years ago, in which, he said: 
u Improve your time, read history — occasionally, a 
good novel, and don't neglect to look over your al- 
gebra and geometry. 1 ' 

"I had not thought of becoming a teacher, but 
when about nineteen years of age, our pastor sud- 
denly resigned his position over the church. His wife, 
a New England teacher, had opened a young ladies 1 
school, and was in the middle of a term. She came to 
me to complete her term; this I agreed to do with 
fear and trembling, as many of my own companions 
were in the school, some older than myself. After 



-119- 



I had taught a few days, this minister concluded to 
remain. His wife came to me again, wanting her 
school. I was ready to yield, but my pupils objected. 
I taught two years, after which time I was married 
to Rev. Alexander McFerson, who had been a stu- 
dent at Athens. I was married at Urbana, and went 
with my husband to Salem, Ind., where he had been 
in charge of a church for a few months. My father 
took us in his carriage to Dayton, Ohio, from thence 
we went by canal to Cincinnati, by river to Louis- 
ville, by stage to Salem. My husband had preached 
here six years, when he caught a violent cold from 
riding ten miles in a snow storm, to fill an appoint- 
ment for preaching; this brought on inflammatory 
rheumatism, which caused his death. I was left a 
widow at twenty-seven, with three babies, the oldest 
not five years, the youngest two months old. 

"We had a sweet little home of our own, a cow, 
horse and carriage, but support was cut off when 
my husband died. Two brothers, one a Supreme 
Judge in Ohio, the other a Naval Officer, came to 
see me; they were distressed at my condition, and 
said: "What can you do but take these babies and 
go to father, your brothers will supply you with the 
money you need." They left me $50, quite a gift 
for those times. I did not tell them what I would 
do, but as I thought over the matter, concluded that 
I did not choose to be a dependent, giving my chil- 
dren only the advantages they pleased to allow; so 
when my baby was six months old, I cleared out 
my parlor, put in desks and opened a school. After 
teaching here a year I was invited to take charge 
of the Female Seminary, at Bloomington, Ind., 
where my oldest brother was then Professor of Lan- 
guages in the State University. I took charge here 
when my baby was eighteen months old. Before 



-120- 



doing so I went to Cincinnati to look into schools, 
to see if there were any new methods of teaching or 
new text books. I brought teachers from the East, 
one a fine musician. There was but one piano in 
the place before my own arrived. I had a school of 
one hundred young ladies, many coming from a dis- 
tance with brothers who came to college. I intro- 
duced singing and calisthenics into my school, which 
were quite new then, and added interest. 

"I kept house with my children and teachers, 
superintending all myself, and teaching six hours 
every day. After a few years, during my fall vaca- 
tion, I took a trip East to visit the best schools; 
this was before the days of many railroads. I visited 
the State Normal school at Albany, N. Y., also the 
best schools in Hartford, Ct. Here I met and con- 
sulted with Miss Kate Beecher, who was much in- 
terested in education, and was connected with a so- 
ciety for sending teachers to the West. 

"I also visited the old Ipswich and Mt. Holyoke 
Seminaries. At Ipswich I learned some new meth- 
ods for interesting my girls in spelling, an impor- 
tant branch of education. 

"I remained ten years in Bloomington, educating 
my own children, as well as some orphan girls; two 
from Salem, whom I kept in my family several years. 
All the ministers' daughters of the place were 
received into my school without charge for tuition. 
My brother used to say to me: 'I think if you support 
and educate your own children, you will be doing 
well without educating others free.' 1 I was not de- 
pendent upon brothers, or any one else, and could 
do as I wished. I never received aid from my fam- 
ily during the years I was bringing up and educa- 
ting my children, amounting to one hundred dol- 
lars; it was not necessary. I perhaps, have not had 



-121- 



as much sympathy for helpless women as I should 
have, but all cannot help themselves. I had op- 
portunities in my younger days to prepare myself 
for this work, and God blessed me with health, and 
strength, and energy. 

"I taught in Bloomington ten years, then went 
with Dr. Monfort as Lady Principal, to Glendale, 
where I remained five years, until I was called to 
Evansville to be with my daughter, (married and 
settled there), whilst her husband went to the army. 

"I taught eighteen years of my life, and don't re- 
member that during that time I was absent from 
school a single day, on account of illness. 

"I feel to-day like saying with the Psalmist: 
'Bless the Lord, 0, my soul; and all that is within 
me, bless His holy name. 1 

E. J. McFeeson. 1 ' 




/ 




CHAPTER XVII. 



MRS. E. T. DREW, NOW MRS. BARNES. 

Persons who read this volume will expect to see 
the familiar name of Mrs. Drew in its pages; though 
mention has been made of her before under the 
name of Mrs. Barnes, it will not quite satisfy those 
in whose heart she occupies so large a place not to 
find any further mention of her. Mrs. Drew, as we 
still like to call her, because it brings pleasant 
memories, was a native of Hartford, Conn., and was 
educated in Montreal, Canada, to which place her 
parents had removed. She was a niece of Arthur and 
Wm. B. Tappan, who were celebrated in their day, 
both for their anti-slavery views and for rare intel- 
ligence and influence in New England. The latter 
was also a poet, some of the best hymns sung in 
our churches having been written by him. Mrs. 
Drew came to Evansville more than forty years ago, 
and was so associated with the church and all its 
belongings, that when she left for a home in New 
Orleans, she was missed in every department of it, 




BEV. J. R. BARNES AND MRS. BARNES. 



-123- 

, i i ... 

as well as in almost every household. Few persons 
have done with their own hands so many acts of 
kindness as she has done, all of which it seemed her 
greatest pleasure to perform. 

1 How many weary nights she has watched by the 
bedside of the sick and suffering, even breaking 
down her o wn health in this way, her labors at one 
time resulting in a long illness. No home where 
there was trouble was long without her kindly of- 
fices. She was always ready for loving and generous 
deeds, which were worth far more than money to 
the recipients — making clothing for the destitute 
and helping all who needed help. Mrs. Drew Was 
strictly observant of all her church duties, never 
failing to be found in her accustomed place at its 
services, without regard to the weather, sickness 
,. v 1 \ alone preventing her faithful attendance. She was 
for many years a manager of the Industrial Schopl 
of which Mrs. Samuel Bayard was the founder and 
, ,president; also a manager of the Home of the 
Friendless. The Sunday School, Missionary Society 
and every other good work had her sympathy and 
support. Time did not dampen her ardor or energy 
for the accomplishment of any good object, she was 
as ready at seventy years of age to engage in any 
new plan for the benefit of others as she had been 



-124- 



rnany years before. Her whole life was given to 
making everyone happy, and this she accom- 
plished, in a great measure, by always being em- 
ployed in kind and loving acts. Numerous me- 
mentoes of her affectionate regard are cherished 
keepsakes in the homes of her friends. Her example 
of cheerfulness and her disposition to look on the 
bright side of every event, was also a source of 
happiness to others, and she was a person of whose 
society one never grew weary. Her friends rejoice 
to know that she is bappy as Mrs. Barnes, in her 
beautiful home in Marietta, Ohio, among new and 
kind friends. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



PROFESSOR TINKER. 

Milton Z. Tinker was born in Kingsville, Ashta- 
bula county, Ohio, June 25th, 1834. His youth was 
spent in the ordinary routine of a farm laborer. He 
assisted upon the farm during the summer, and at- 
tended school during the winter. In the former 
capacity he laid well the foundation for a sound, 
physical constitution, such as only agricultural pur- 
suits can give. 

He spent most of his leisure moments in the study 
of music, applying himself diligently in all of the 
several departments, especially in that of voice cul- 
ture. He was a regular attendant upon the exer- 
cises of the old-fashioned singing school, musical 
institute and the musical convention, thereby se- 
curing every advantage to be gained which these 
gatherings afforded. 



-126- 



In the fall of 1854 lie commenced teaching his 
first day-school, at a salary of $12 per month, for a 
term of five months, and, as the custom was then, 
u boarded around" the district. He gave instructions 
to singing classes at night in the communities where 
he was teaching, a practice he continued for four 
successive years. 

On the first of May, 1858, he went to Chicago 
and entered the Normal Musical Institute, of Messrs. 
Bradbury & Cady, and took a thorough five months' 
course upon practical teaching, including the sub- 
ject of harmony and voice training. 

He at once began the work of conducting singing 
classes, musical institutes, and musical conventions. 
Success crowned his efforts at all of the places he 
visited. 

In the fall of 1863 he was employed by the Board 
of Education of the city of Terre Haute, Ind., to in- 
troduce and superintend the instruction of vocal 
music in the public schools of that city. Continu- 
ing the work in Terre Haute until 1867, he then re- 
signed and accepted a like position from the Board 
of Education of the city of Evansville, Ind. He 
commenced the work in Evansville on the first of 
September, 1867, and has held the position contin- 
uously during a period of nearly twenty-five years. 



-127- 



He united with the Walnut Street Presbyterian 
Church in 1869. In the fall of 1870 he succeeded 
Mr. Theo. Russell, as leader of the choir, and still 
holds the position. He has been leader of the Phil- 
harmonic Society, the Lyric Society, and the Ideal 
Opera Club. He has, at all times, been identified 
with every movement which had for its object th& 
musical advancement of the people of Evansville. 

The choir of Walnut Street Church has been for- 
tunate in having so competent a leader for so many 
years as Prof. Tinker. Father Chute was the first 
person who led the choir, and after him Col. C. K. 
Drew, Sr., who in the u Little Church on the Hill, 11 
played on the bass-viol the accompaniment to the 
sacred songs of Zion. His son, Col. C. K. Drew, Jr., 
who now resides in New Orleans, was the organist 
after the new church was built. Miss Amelia Law- 
rence, Mrs. Maclean, Miss Laura Thompson, Miss 
Talbot and Mr. Arnold Habbe, have all filled the 
position of organist, which Mrs. Millis now occu- 
pies. More attention has been given to music in the 
last twenty years than it received during fifty years 
before in Evansville. In 1836 the first piano was 
brought to the place, and for fifteen years after, 
there was but one teacher who gave lessons on that 
instrument. 



-128- 



No one has contributed more to the entertain- 
ment and advancement of the community, in mu- 
sic, than Prof. Tinker. His connection with the pub- 
lic schools, as well as with the church, has accom- 
plished this. It is impossible to estimate the good 
that has been derived from his services for the many 
years past, in which he has trained the youth in the 
divine art. Who can say how the undeveloped minds 
of the young have been elevated and inspired to the 
pursuit of the chaste and ennobling avocations of life 
by his teaching ? The little untutored urchin in the 
public school, in whose home music's sweetest 
strains are never heard, and where, perhaps, only 
discordant sounds have met his ear, is charmed with 
the sweet songs he hears in school, all breathing of 
purity and love, his little heart is broken up and the 
good seed is sown in it which will bring forth fruit 
such as never before grew about his humble home. 
Music is the solace of life. Who that has been jos- 
tled through its rough highways and filled with 
care and anxiety, does not gratefully welcome the 
strains of some old familiar song? It calms and 
rests his weary soul. 

The music of the present day is more artistic than 
the songs of il Lang Syne," but the latter will never 
lose their charm; their notes strike a chord in the 



-129- 



heart which will ever vibrate with pleasure to the 
sound. We may be charmed with the brilliant com- 
positions of the greatest composers, we may drink 
in/the melody of the most gifted songstress, but 
there are no sweeter strains to us than those we first 
learned to love. 

U I remember a song whose numbers throng 

As sweetly in memory's twilight hour, 
As the voice of the blest in the realms of rest, 

Or the sparkle of dew on a dreaming flower. 
Tis a simple air, but when others depart, 

Like an angel's whisper it clings to my heart. 
That song, that song, that old, sweet song, 

I gather it up like a golden chain — 
Link by link, as to slumber I sink, 

And link by link when I wake again; 
I shall hear it I know when the last deep rest 

Shall fold me close to the earth's dark breast." 



CHAPTER XIX. 



REV. LELAND GILLELAND, D. D. 

In 1884 Dr. Gilleland was called to supply the 
pulpit of Walnut Street Church. On his first ap- 
pearance in the sacred desk he captured the hearts of 
his hearers by his earnest and enthusiastic preaching, 
and throughout the time that he remained with 
this people they never lost their interest in his ser- 
mons, and in almost every household they were the 
subject of conversation when the service was over. 
It is impossible to estimate the extent or value of the 
good work accomplished during the six years that 
he remained in connection with the church. Dr. 
Gilleland came to Evansville from Tideout, Penn., 
and previous to his residence there he had lived in 
White Pigeon, Michigan, where he had charge of a 
church. Born of Protestant Irish parents, he in- 
herited their staunch Presbyterian views from which 




KEY. LELAND GILLELAND, D. D. 



-131- 



he never departed, and few men have ever seemed 
to human vision, to be worth so much to the church 
and the world. That his earthly usefulness was cut 
short could only be because some service more grand 
and fruitful than any on earth awaited him in the 
heavenly life. The resignation of Dr. GKlleland was 
received by the church with the most profound re- 
gret. He removed to Lake View, Chicago, in Oc- 
tober, 1890, and had entered upon his work with the 
promise of a bright future opening before him, 
when he was stricken down with disease and died 
on March 17th, 1891. It was a noble testimony to 
his character, as true as it was exalted, which Dr, 
Marquis bore at his funeral, when he said: "I think 
he was as little influenced by considerations of per- 
sonal ambition or emolument as any man I ever 
knew. He never asked concerning a project or act, 
'what will it do for or bring me?' but 'what will it 
do for Christ and for men? 1 He was single-eyed in 
that, the controlling purpose of his life was to 
please Him whose servant he was. It is not to be 
wondered at that such a man should be rich in 
friends, the possession of that best earthly heritage, 
the devoted friendship, the strong confidence and 
the lasting affection of the right minded and sin- 
cere. The loss to the church and the world is to be 



-132- 



deplored when such men are summoned away from 
a life of usefulness to a higher and better sphere. 

A few weeks after the death of Dr. Grilleland his 
wife, who had faithfully nursed him through his 
long and severe illness, was taken with the same 
disease (typhoid fever) of which he died, and in a 
few short weeks was laid to rest beside him, leaving 
a young family to be cared for by friends and rela- 
tives. The members of Walnut Street Church and 
the church of which Dr. Grilleland was pastor made 
up a handsome sum for the education of his chil- 
dren, which was a praiseworthy act. 

Mrs. Gilleland was a valuable aid to her husband 
in his work, a pleasant companion and a loving 
mother, devoting herself to the comfort and happi- 
ness of her family, and the blow which severed her 
from her children and friends was severely felt. Af- 
ter her husband's death she was inconsolable, and 
she was ready to express herself in the words of 
Father Ryan: 

u My feet are weary and my hands are tired, 

My soul's oppressed, 
And with desire, I now desire 

Rest only rest; 
And I am restless, still 

Far down the west 
Life's sun is setting, and I see the shore 

Where I shall rest." 



CHAPTER XX. 



THE ELDEES AND EAELIEST MEMBEES OF THE CHURCH. 



The present elders are Messrs. Edward T. Sullivan, 
James L. Orr, Robert Smith, J. N. McCoy, Byron 
Parsons, Samuel Q. Rickwood, Herman Pfafflin and 
Melvin H. Lockyear. 



DE. SAWYER AND DE. TYRRELL. 

Among those who have resigned or ceased to act 
in the capacity of Elder we find the names of Dr. 
Sawyer and Dr. C. C. Tyrrell,, both of whom are 
still in Evansville and are among the oldest citizens. 
They have both seen all the changes that have taken * 
place in Evansville in the last three or four decades, 
and are sincere Christian people interested in the 
welfare and prosperity of the church. 



-134- 



MR. HIRAM K. WELLS, 

Who was also an Elder, has removed with his wife 
to Elmira, N. Y., where they reside with their 
daughter. Few persons ever lived in Evansville 
who enjoyed more of the confidence and respect of 
every one than Mr. and Mrs. Wells. They have 
passed many mile-stones on their life's journey and 
are cheerful and happy in their old age. 



MR. CHARLES S. WELLS, 

A brother of Mr. Hiram K. Wells, came to this 
place many years since with his family, only one 
member of which, Mrs. Helen Keller, is here at 
this time. Mr. Wells was an Elder and an excel- 
lent man. He died early in life and his loss was 
severely felt in the church, as he was one who had a 
powerful influence for good in any place or position. 



MR. DANIEL Gr. MARK 

Was a native of Gettysburg, Pa. He came to Ev- 
ansville in 1850, where he lived over thirty years. 
He died in 1882. at the age of fifty-two years. 
After coming to the place, Mr. Mark united with 
Walnut Street Church and was chosen an Elder in 
1 869. He was one of its most efficient Elders, and 
spared no pains or efforts in his power to further 




ME. DANIEL G. MAKK. 



-135- 



the interests of the church, giving generously of 
his time and means to the work. He was an excel- 
lent neighbor and friend, and with a liberal hand 
extended help to the poor and needy. His estima- 
ble wife survives him, but has never recovered from 
the sorrow of her bereavement. Mr. Mark served 
as an Elder with Mr. Shanklin, Mr. Orr and Mr. 
Luke Wood, all of whom, with Mr. Chas. Wells, 
have passed away since 1860. 



MR. MYRON W. SAFFORD 

Came to Evansville to establish a school which was 
taught in the school house seen in the picture be- 
side the little Church on the Hill. His wife and 
her sisters, the Misses Morton, who assisted in the 
school, were sisters of the present Vice President, 
Hon. Levi P. Morton. They were all New England 
people with the staunch principles of that old land. 
Mr. Safford died some years ago; he was also an 
Elder. 



GOV. CONRAD BAKER. 

Reference has already been made in these pages 
to Gov. Baker and his lovely wife, whose presence 
always brought life and pleasure into every circle 
where she was welcomed. Her bright and happy 



-136- 



face is still remembered by her old friends. She 
was a sister of Thomas E. Garvin and Mrs. Louisa 
Casselberry. Gov. Baker came to Evansville in 
early times, and did not wait for church members to 
call upon him before he chose his place of worship. 
He knew where he belonged, and worshiped as his 
fathers had done in the Presbyterian'church. He 
was „a lawyer of a high and honorable character, 
and this was what won for him the position of 
Governor of the State of Indiana. During his 
stay here his beloved wife was called from earth, 
and after some years he married Miss Charlotte 
Chute, a daughter of Father Chute and an estim- 
able woman. 

The first house Gov. Baker occupied after com- 
ing to Evansville was a little cottage still standing 
on Second street, not far from Walnut street 
church. It was once a charming little home, made 
so by tasteful hands. Afterwards Gov. Baker built 
the house now occupied by Mr. D, B. Kumler,on First 
street. After he was elected Governor he moved to 
Indianapolis, where his family remained after his 
death. 



HON. WM. BAKEE, 

Who was a brother of Gov. Baker, came to this 
place a few years later than his brother and was 



-137- 



highly esteemed. He was a native of Pennsylvania 
which was honored by her sons. He was educated 
to thorough business habits, which told in his suc- 
cess in life. Mr. Baker was mayor of the city for 
several years, and to him the city is indebted for 
some of its most valuable improvements and the 
honest administration of the law during the period 
in which he held office. He and his wife were ex- 
amplary members of the church and were interested 
in all its affairs and Mr. Baker rendered it important 
and valuable service. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are 
neither of them now living. 



MR. AND MRS. LAWRENCE, 

Whose names and faces were familiar to us many 
years ago. Mrs. Lawrence was a sister of Mrs. Dr. 
Sawyer, and is remembered as a person who had 
many friends. She was a genial, kind hearted 
woman and an efficient member of the church, al- 
ways ready to do more than her share of the hard 
work so necessary to be done in the church in early 
times. When the new church was erected Mr. 
Lawrence presented it with a handsome marble 
pulpit. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence are still living, 
their home is Chicago. 



-138- 



MR. AND MRS. HORACE PLUMER 

Were members of the little Church on the Hill. 
They were New England people. Mrs. Plumer i s 
still living and has been a widow many years. She 
has seen severe affliction,but welcomes old age with 
cheerful resignation. Mrs. Plumer now attends 
the First Avenue church, where without doubt she 
is an energetic worker in its interest, as she was in 
the old church. 



MRS. J. E. MASON, 

Though not one of the oldest members of the 
church, she was one of those quiet Christian wo- 
men whose life was a lesson from which all could 
learn truth and purity of purpose. She lived what 
she believed, by her death her friends and the 
church sustained a great loss. She was for years, 
together with her husband, a member of the choir. 
She now sings the songs of the redeemed. 

There are others whose faces would be missed 
from their accustomed places as much as the pulpit 
or the organ, and it is hoped that their seats may 
not be vacant for many years to come. Among 
these are still some who used to worship in the old 
church and sing in its choir. 



-139- 



MR. AND MRS. SAMUEL E. GILBERT, 

Both of whom have given many years of faithful 
service to the choir, and can be relied upon for the 
fulfillment of all the duties required of them as 
church members. Mr. Gilbert came to Evansville 
in 1850 and has been a successful merchant, but is 
now retired from business. His estimable wife is 
a native of this place and is a sister of David J. 
Mackey. 

MRS. THOMAS E. GARVIN 

Is also remembered as belonging to the choir in 
years that are past and is known at this time as a 
valuable member of Walnut street church, ready to 
assist in any good work, kind and Avarm hearted to 
her friends of whom she has man}^. Beside her in 
the choir of long ago stood a beloved relative of 
hers. The name of Nellie Warner, (afterwards 
Mrs. Culbertson), brings before us a queenly and 
elegant woman. After her marriage to Mr. Cul- 
bertson of New Albany, she resided in that place 
where she was highly esteemed. 

Death, who u loves a shining mark, 11 removed her 
a few years since from a lovely home where, with 
wealth and a benevolent heart she was accomplish- 
ing a great amount of good. She possessed a re- 
markable degree of taste and culture and seemed 



-140- 



especially designed as a leader in society and in the 
church. Her efforts in sustaining an orphans' home 
were deserving of great praise. She contributed 
freely of her means, her time and talents to its 
support. Her removal from a life of usefulness 
was very much deplored in her home and by those 
intimately associated with her in works of benev- 
olence and charity. 

Of the early members who are still active in 
church work are Mrs.James H. Cutler,Dr. and Mrs. 
Tyrrell, Dr. and Mrs. Sawyer, Mrs. Mary Babcock 
Mrs. Nancy M. McClain and Mrs. James Davidson, 
All of the above persons have contributed in every 
way to the good and prosperity of the church, and 
are consistent Christian people. 

There is also a grand army of resolute and cheer- 
ful servants in the cause of their Master, those 
best known to the writer are Mrs. Samuel Bayard, 
Mr. and Mrs. Dalzell, Mrs. Isaac Keen, Mr. James 
L. Orr, Mrs. Gilchrist, Mrs. James M. Shanklin, 
Mrs. Read. Mr. Robert Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Ed- 
ward Sullivan, Mrs. Matilda Goodge, Mr. W. H. 
Lehnhard, Mr. and Mrs. McCoy, Miss Anna Farrell 
Mrs. North Storms, Dr. and Mrs. J. B. Weaver, Mrs. 
John Gilbert, Mrs. W.S. French, Mr. and Mrs. Phil. 
C. Decker, and many of the later members are alsa 



« 



-141- 



worthy of mention herein, besides the young people 
who are zealous in good works and with young and 
willing heart and hands great good will be accom- 
plished. 

The history of the above people should be found 
in the next volume. 

Besides those before mentioned the church has 
lost by death many valuable members. On this 
list we find the names of Dr. Wilcox and wife, Mrs. 
James E. Blythe, Dr. Morgan and wife, Mrs. 
James L. Orr, Mr. Sellman, wife and son, (these 
were the entire family,) Mr. Swanson and wife, 
Mrs. Dutcher, Mrs. Lydia Bell and Mr. Luke Wood, 
who was an elder, as was also his grandfather of 
the same name who died many years since. Mr. 
James R. Goodlett was also an elder in early times. 
He was the father of our present mayor, Hon. N. M. 
Goodlett. and a man of sterling worth and integrity. 

More than thirty families have removed from 
Evansville to different parts of the country in the 
last five years, who were connected with the 
church. Among those who went to CalHornia was 
Mrs. George Start, who was an active and useful 
member of the church. Mrs. C. K. Drew removed 
to New Orleans, and both of these persons have 
passed away from the scenes of time. 



CHAPTER XXL 



REV. OTIS A. SMITH 

Was born in Albion, Edwards county, 111., April 
10th, 1862. He was the youngest of seven children 
and son of Rev. Thomas and Jane Smith, who came 
from England in 1848. Rev. Mr. Smith went to 
Wabash College in the fall of 1878, and was grad- 
uated in 1883. He was tutor in the college for the 
college year 1883-84. In the fall of 1884 he went 
to Union Theological Seminary, New York City. 
After being in that institution one year he came to 
Chicago and spent two years in the McCormick 
Theological Seminary. He was graduated in 1887, 
and was called to the pastorate of the Frankfort,Ind., 
Presbyterian church and entered upon the work there 
March 13th,1887. 

Mr. Smith was ordained by the Presbytery of 
Crawfordsville, in session at Attica, Ind., April 
1877, having been previously licensed by the 
Presbytery of Cairo in session at DuQuoin, Ills. 
April, 1886. 



REV. OTIS A. SMITH. 



-143- 



He was married June 2nd, 1887, to Miss Martha 
Binford, of Crawfordsville, Ind. In February, 1891 r 
he was called from Frankfort to Evansville, Ind., 
and entered upon the work in connection with the 
Walnut Street Presbyterian Church, March 10th, 
1891. 

Rev. Mr. Smith being now the pastor of the 
church of which so much has been said and written 
he is to be congratulated upon having charge of 
one of the best and most flourishing churches in 
the West. Through much tribulation in its earliest 
days it has come to be a large and prosperous so- 
ciety. Its members are noted for their generosity 
to all benevolent objects, and their kindness and 
hospitality to strangers is proverbial. The poor, 
the sick and the afflicted find substantial aid among 
them and in fact there is no end to the ways and 
means employed to benefit those who are unfor- 
tunate, and in matters of this kind they have faith- 
ful and efficient help in their pastor. Walnut 
Street Church has always kept up to its standard of 
Christian life and morality, the fashions and allure- 
ments of the world have attracted fewer of its 
members from the straight and narrow way of 
their "fathers" than might almost have been ex- 
pected considering the temptations of the present 



-144- 



age. If there is a question of right or wrong to be 
decided about any matter relating to or in connec- 
tion with the church it is easily set at rest by de- 
ciding to do only what is known to be right and to 
do nothing about which there is a shadow of a 
doubt. Their children are taught truth and obedi- 
ence and these are the foundations of all the laws 
of God and man. Conscientious parents not only 
set a good example to their children, but insist 
upon their attending church and Sunday school. 
The women of this church deserve especial praise 
for their ability to raise money for any church 
purposes. The church socials have taken the 
place of the fairs of years ago, and afford a much 
easier way of raising money. Weeks and months 
were spent in making useful articles and fancy 
work, but those who patronized the fairs were 
better satisfied to have something for their 
money. They had not formed the extravagant 
habit of letting their money go for what they 
could not see again. Rev. Mr. Smith is a young 
and enthusiastic preacher and meets with the 
hearty approval of the church members. There 
seems to be nothing now in the way of the pros- 
perity of the church. 



-145- 



When the foregoing was written the sad event 
which was so soon to take place could not have 
been even imagined. 

Death entered the pleasant home of Mr. Smith 
and removed his beloved wife. Mrs. Smith had been 
dangerously ill for a week but it was hoped that the 
best medical skill and the care of loving and anx- 
ious friends might arrest the fatal blow, but He who 
ruleth over the destinies of all, otherwise decreed, 
and her pure spirit was called to a home above. She 
left a lovely little girl to mourn her loss. Though 
Mrs. Smith had been in her new home in Evans- 
ville but a few months she had won the hearts of 
many persons by her refined manners and her gentle 
and devoted Christian character. The church, 
her family and friends, have sustained a severe 
loss, in which they have the sincere sympathy 
of the community. 

The following beautiful tribute to the memory 
of Mrs. Smith is taken from the Crawfordsville 
Journal: 

"The funeral of the late Mrs. 0. A. Smith occurred 
this afternoon from the residence of Joseph Bin- 
ford on East Market street, being conducted by Dr. 
R. J. Cunningham and Rev. Gr. L. Mcintosh, of 
Indianapolis. A large concourse of friends were 
present and attended the remains to their last rest- 
ing place. Among those present from out of the 



-146- 



city were, Robert Smith, of Evansville; Rev. G. L. 
Mcintosh, of Indianapolis; R. P. Shanklin and 
wife, R. M. Sims and wife, Gr. W. Negley and wife, 
New Salesbury and wife, Jonathan Cook, H. F. 
Campbell, Mrs. Carrie Sidwell, Miss Ella Palmer, 
Miss Lemna Bryant, Mrs. Abram Grivens, D. W. 
Paul, Mrs. J. H.' Coulter, Mrs. Cleveland and Mrs. 
Hockman, of Frankfort." 

The Presbyterian church at Frankfort, where Rev. 
0. A. Smith and wife were stationed until recently, 
unanimously passed the following tribute to her 
memory yesterday at a congregational meeting: 

"It is with deepest sorrow and profound sadness 
that we have learned of the death of Mrs. Smith, 
the wife of our late pastor, Rev. Otis A. Smith. 
Mrs. Smith, by her gentle, unassuming manner* 
her loving deeds, her conscientious discharge of 
duty and her kindly greeting had endeared herself to 
us all. She was a woman of deep religious convic- 
tions and ardent in her attachment to her church. 
Her religious profession she made good by her 
conduct. She lived unspotted and faithful; her 
courtesy and kindness were unfailing; she was be- 
loved by all. When such a person dies it becomes 
us to mourn and we deplore her death because of 
her great worth as a Christian woman, her loss to 
the church, to her husband and to society, and we, 
as a church tenderly and affectionately extend to 
our late pastor our sincere sympathy and condolence 
in this bereavement." 

A. T. Wolff, Moderator. 
J. A. Searight, Clerk. 

"As flows the tide across the pebbly strand 
Then slowly ripples out again to sea, 

So flood the waves of light across the land 
At daybreak, making all the shadows flee; 



-147- 



So slowly ebb they out again through space, 
Past island stars unto that crystal sea, 

That mirrors back the light of God"s own face, 
And rolls before His throne eternally. 

They are but outer ripples — far-off gleams 

That daily wash against this earthly shore, 
Yet in the light the world transfigured seems; 

What will it be to wake when death is o'er. 
Beside that sea, in lands that need no sun? 

To gaze into its crystal depths and know 
The eternal day of life has just begun, 

As pure and endless as the waters flow. 

If so much beauty crowns this little sphere, 
Where u darkly through a glass" we seem to see, 

When u face to face 1 ' with Heaven we appear, 
Unspeakable the glory then will be. 11 



DR. L. G. JOHNSON. 

Death seems to have been busy in the early days 
of the new year. The chimes of '92 had scarcely 
ceased when his cold hand was laid upon a good 
man who was once an Elder in the Walnut Street 
Church. Dr. L. Gr. Johnson was for several years 
a resident of Evansville. He was a homeopathic 
physician and was highly respected in this com- 
munity. His home was in St. Louis and in a few 
days after his death his wife was called to follow 
him to the "better land. 11 Their remains were 
brought to this place for interment. 



CHAPTER XXII. 



THE CHILDKEN. 

u In memory's mellowing glass how sweet 
Our infant days, and childish joys to greet, 

To roam in fancy in each cherished scene.' 1 

Among those who have a warm place in the 
heart of the writer are the dear children and to 
them hearty congratulations are extended that 
they live in this age of progress when so many new 
inventions and improvements make the world to them 
almost a paradise compared with what it was years ago 
when life seemed barren of enjoyment for children. 
Even the picture books of the present time are an 
education to a child. 

In a well remembered home of seventy years ago 
where there was the best collection of books in 
the neighborhood, except the library of the min- 
ister, there were but two books which contained 
pictures and these were the "Babes in the Woods" 
and "Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress." The first was 
a good book to call out the sympathies of a child 



-149- 



for the poor little babes in the lonely woods, but 
what a sad lesson in human nature was learned 
from the character of the uncle. It is a wonder that 
the child who read this book was not afraid of its 
uncles ever afterwards. Then Bunyan's old man 
he called Christian, who would not lay down his 
burden, was a perfect mystery to the childish mind, 
it could not comprehend why he was so persistent 
in carrying that bundle. These books were chosen 
as the most interesting to a child from among such 
as Baxter's Saints' Rest, Call to the Unconverted, 
Jonathan Edwards 1 writings, and others of a 
kindred name and character. The Sunday-school 
books were the first that were written for children 
and some of them were far beyond their compre- 
hension. The children of this age of the world are 
the most important persons in the community, im- 
portant inasmuch as there is more thought given to 
their care, education and training as well as to their 
happiness and welfare than is given to any other 
class of society, and also because they are to fill the 
places now occupied by others and their influence 
for good or evil is to affect the world when the scep- 
tre has fallen from the hands of those who now rule. 

The responsibility resting upon the children of 
these days is very great, the facilities for obtaining 
knowledge are so much better than they ever were 



-150- 



before, that every child is in a measure responsible 
for his improvement of these opportunities. 
The children have the benefit of the knowl- 
edge attained by the greatest minds, in science, art 
and literature; the lightning is harnessed and 
driven at the will of man; thunder, which was once 
known only as the voice of Grod, is now heard with- 
out terror. The earth gives up its treasures,buried 
cities, with all the pomp and wealth of other ages, 
are excavated, and the temples and palaces of na- 
tions that have passed away, are brought to light. 
The revelations of science in the past few years 
have almost made a new world of this mundane 
sphere. Art presents the young with the choicest 
and most divine studies. Every child should culti- 
vate a taste for music and painting, which lend a 
refining influence that cannot be derived as well 
from any other source. Literature provides for ev- 
ery desire of the miud in pursuit of knowledge or 
pleasure; while there is much literature that it is a 
great waste of time to read, there is a wealth of 
thought in the best authors that will enrich and el- 
evate the mind of the reader, and the young should 
especially choose those authors who give them ideas 
that they may carry with them through life, and 
that will have a good influence upon them here and 
hereafter. 



-151- 



The idea at this day, seems very old-fashioned, 
that young people should not attend theatres and 
dances, and play cards. It is either right or wrong 
to encourage the pursuit of such pleasures. Many 
thoughtful and experienced persons have decided 
that it is wrong, and are ready to ask: "Is it 
right to waste the time that could be better em- 
ployed, in preparing for, and attending dances and 
theatres? Is it right to encourage the expenditure 
of money in this way, by young persons who need 
to save their earnings to begin a successful lifer 
Should respectable and religious parents counten- 
ance theatrical people with whom they could not 
think of allowing their children even an acquaint- 
ance? Is there any good derived from card play- 
ing? If so, does the good counteract the harm 
which has so often followed it — the dishonesty and 
ruin of thousands?" 

The time has been when religious persons disap- 
proved of these amusements, and churches (Walnut 
Street Church included), called their members to ac- 
count to the session for drinking intoxicating 
liquors, playing cards and attending theatres. The 
question might be asked, are these things any nearer 
right now than they were then? 

Diversions for children should be simple and 
well selected; those should be chosen about which 



-152- 



there is no doubt of their being conducive to health 
of the body and mind; late hours and excitement 
should always be avoided. 

While the minds of the children are developing, 
the parents, perhaps, realizing from their own ex- 
perience that life may not be to them always a 
garden of flowers, endeavor to afford them all the 
pleasure in their power to contribute, and with 
great painstaking and trouble they furnish enter- 
tainments of various kinds, none of which are en- 
joyed to their fullest extent more than those of the 
Christmas Holidays. Fifty years ago Christmas 
was scarcely talked of and never celebrated in 
Evansville. The old English people were some 
times known to tell of what they used to do in Eng- 
land at Christmas. There were few Episcopalians 
or Catholics here then who would have been most 
likely to have noticed that day; the other denom- 
inations were not quite sure about the date of the 
event which Christmas commemorates and it passed 
quietly away. Now all seem to agree upon the 
same time, and the churches from the old Puritan 
stock are ready to mark the day with festivities, 
and even the Jewish people give presents to their 
friends and children on Christmas. 

The following newspaper account of a merry 
Christmas entertainment for the children, finds a 



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place here with the hope that in some unaccount- 
able manner this volume may survive the wreck of 
years, and perhaps be found among the other rub- 
bish of some garret in the latter part of the twen- 
tieth century (when the manner of spending 
Christmas may have changed as much as it has in 
this century), and may afford some of the remote 
posterity of the actors in the celebration of 1891 
an opportunity of seeing how their ancestors spent 
Christmas: 

SANTA AX CHURCH. 



The Crowning Event of Christmas-Tide 
— Children Made Happy. 



A Delightful Evening Spent at Walnut Street Presby- 
terian Church. 



"Last evening the parlors of Walnut Street 
Presbyterian church were well filled with the boys 
and girls of the Sunday school and their friends 
who came to enjoy together the Christmas enter- 
tainment. 

The room was beautifully decorated with palms, 
holly, Alabama smilax and mistletoe, and bright 



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lamps added to the pleasing effect. A stage had 
been erected in the corner of the room, on which 
was a fire-place with a tall brick chimney. The 
bright-faced happy children in their prettiest 
clothes made by far the sweetest and most attrac- 
tive picture. 

After the opening chorus and an appropriate talk 
from Mr. James L. Orr, the infant class marched in 
and took their places on the platform, where they 
knelt and repeated in concert a sweet little prayer. 
Miss Bessie Valentine made the opening address 
very cutely. 

In 'Christmas Music,' Milton Pullis, Walter 
Schnakenburg, John Storms, Jessie Conner, Ed- 
ward Hankins, Allen Hawkins and Hallie Crawford 
represented musical instruments. 

Misses Mabel Lahr, Madeline Norton, Lillie 
Hodson, Mamie Groodge, Louise Robinson, Eloise 
Decker, Mabel Melvin and Mildred Cutler each rep- 
resented a flower in the 'Christmas Wreath.' 

The tableaux were a very pleasing part of the 
evening's entertainment. In 'Christmas Rich and 
Poor,' Helen Paine, Helen Venneman and Carl 
Schnakenburg made a very pretty picture, and 
Miss Emily Sullivan will not soon be forgotten as 
she stood leaning upon the cross in 'Rock of Ages.' 



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A quartet was admirably rendered by Messrs. 
Walter Decker, Harry Little and John Strain. 
Little Misses Edith Wing and Ruth Lehnhard sang 
'Christmas Thoughts' very sweetly, and Messrs. M. 
Z. Tinker and Oliver C. Decker delighted the audi- 
ence by their rendition of 'Star of Bethlehem. 1 

At the close, Santa Glaus with Frances Overman, 
Loraine Cutler and Tunis Ross made two beautiful 
tableaux, 'Christmas, Night and Morning,' and as 
an ending Santa Claus came through the window 
with the remark that Christmas was over and he 
had no presents left, but a happy thought struck 
him, that he might distribute the bricks from the 
chimney as he would have no further use for it this 
year. Accordingly it was torn down and to their 
delight and surprise each one found himself pos- 
sessed of a brick in the form of a box of candy. 

One of the best things about the whole, was the 
donation given by the boys and girls as a Christ- 
mas offering to Park Chapel. 

Both old and young were so pleased with the 
success that they decided to re-appoint the same 
committee, Mrs. Sue M. Barton, Mr. Will C. Paine 
and Mr. James L. Orr to attend to all their future 
affairs of this kind. 11 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



In giving an account of the lives of all the good 
men and women who are mentioned in these pages, 
full justice, perhaps, in some instances, may not 
have been done; at the same time there has been no 
desire on the part of the compiler of this book to 
over-rate anyone whose name appears in it. The 
fact that in the long period of seventy years, among 
those pastors mentioned, there has been no one who 
has not honored his calling, is a subject of congrat- 
ulation. It will be seen that the subjects of some 
of these sketches have shown great energy and prac- 
ticed great self-denial in order to fit themselves for 
the life they chose, and that the desire to do good 
was the ruling motive of their labors. There is a 
sublimity in the thought of men devoting their 
lives to the good of others. The world holds out 
many inducements to follow its varied pursuits of 
pleasure, fame and wealth, which may all array 
themselves before young men, but those who choose 



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the ministry for their calling seldom look forward 
to any of these. The reward of the just and the 
merciful will be theirs. 

It has been impossible to obtain sketches of all 
the Elders deceased, as well as photographs of some 
of the clergymen. 

Several of the pastors have furnished their his- 
tories, which has been a great assistance in collect- 
ing facts in regard to their lives, and for this they 
will please accept many thanks. Some of the pas- 
tors were not married, others had wives who had 
the care of families of small children, or who were 
invalids, which prevented their being efficient work- 
ers outside of their own homes, and though sketches 
of them might be as interesting as those written, it 
has not been possible to obtain them. 

To the kindness and skill of Mr. Chas. V. Worth- 
ington and Mr. S. W. Douglas, is due the credit of 
the portraits and illustrations. 

If there is anything in these pages that can give 
offense to anyone, it is unintentional, and there is 
no one to blame but the writer, who has only good 
will to all. 



The church records contain over four hundred 
names of members of the church; also the names of 
one hundred and thirty baptized persons. They 



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show that one hundred and thirty-two persons have 
been married by the ministers of the church within 
the last five years. 

There is one feature that is worthv of note in 
the rules of the Presbyterian Church, which is that 
a person once a member is always a member, until 
dismissed by letter, and wherever he goes or what- 
ever befalls him, the church never loses its interest 
in his welfare and happiness; its sympathies go out 
to him in affliction, and it rejoices with him if he 
rejoice. There are the names of some on the church 
books as members, who w T ere reared in the atmos- 
phere of church influences, who, for reasons of their 
own, are no longer devoted to the church as for- 
merly. This must be a source of deep regret to 
those who valued their society and influence, and if 
the time ever comes when their interest in the 
church and its welfare revives, they will be joyfully 
welcomed back to its services and its friendship. 
When one gives up the God and faith of his fath- 
ers, he is like a ship at sea without rudder or com- 
pass, he is blown about by every "wind of doctrine. 1 ' 
When he loses sight of the lighthouse of Faith, 
Hope also disappears. 

^ ^ ^ ^ 

In calling to mind the scenes and persons of the 
past and particularly those who have beer? gone 



-159- 

from us so long, the writer, although not a spirit- 
ualist, has seemed to shake hauds with those old 
friends, and recollections come up of the pleas- 
ant social intercourse enjoyed with them. Do they 
know that they are remembered, and do they think 
of their old friends? 

There are few of the older church members living, 
and as the "whispering leaves 11 of life's autumn fall 
around them, and one after another of those who 
have walked together in life's pleasant pathway, 
disappear among the shadows, may those who take 
their places find only "ways of pleasantness and 
paths of peace. 11 

u When on my day of life the night is falling, 
And, in the winds from unsunned spaces blown, 

I hear far voices out of darkness calling 
My feet to paths unknown. 

Thou who hast made my home of life so pleasant, 
Leave not its tenant when its walls decay. 

Love divine, Helper ever present, 
Be thou my strength and stay. 

Be near me when all else is from me drifting, 
Earth, sky^ome's pictures,days of shade and shine,. 

And kindly faces to my own uplifting 
The love which answers mine. 

1 have but Thee, Father! Let Thy spirit 
Be with me then to comfort and uphold; 

No gate of pearl, no branch of palm, I merit, 
Nor street of shining gold. 



-160- 



Suffice it if — my good and ill unreckoned, 

And both forgiven thro' Thy abounding grace — 

I find myself by hands familiar beckoned 
Unto my fitting place. 

Some humble door among Thy many mansions, 
Some sheltering shade,where sin and striving cease, 

And flows forever throughHeaven's green expansions 
The river of Thy peace. 

There, from the music round about me stealing, 
I fain would learn the new and holy song, 

And find, at last, beneath Thy trees of healing, 
The life for which I long." 



M. F. R. 



4 



\ 



ERRATA. 



Page 47 — Stature instead of statute. 

Page 56-1849 instead of 1840. 

Page 65— February, 1861 instead of 18(51. 

Page 79— Rathbone instead of Ratiibore. 

Page 80 — Were instead of was. 

Page 81 — Were instead of was. 

Page 105— $8,000 instead of $3 000. 

Page 114 — Rev. Dr. Gilleland instead of Rev. Mr. Kumler. 
Page 142— April 20th instead of 10th . 
Page 142-1887 instead of 1877 




mm 



